Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award was previously known as?

Until 2021, the name of the award was Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.

Which award is considered to be the highest award in sports?

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna is considered to be the highest sports award.

What is the prize money awarded to Major Dhyan Chand Awardees?

Earlier the awardees received 7.5 lakhs but in 2021, the Government of India has increased this to 25 lakhs.

Who was the first winner of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?

Vishwanathan Anand was the first winner of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award Winners List 2023

Q: Who received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023?

The badminton duo Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023.

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Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023: The Khel Ratna Award, also known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (previously Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award), stands as India’s prestigious sports recognition, honoring athletes who have brought immense glory to the nation through their exceptional performances in diverse sporting disciplines. This highly esteemed award is eagerly awaited as it signifies the culmination of a rigorous selection process by a dedicated committee that reviews and evaluates the remarkable accomplishments of athletes across various sports. The chosen athlete(s) will be acknowledged for their exceptional contributions to Indian sports, and the award ceremony is anticipated to take place on National Sports Day, continuing the tradition of celebrating excellence in the sporting arena on this auspicious day each year.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023

Badminton duo Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for the year 2023. Moreover, Indian cricketer and pacer Mohammed Shami has also received the prestigious Arjuna Award this year. The BCCI made a special request to the sports ministry, leading to Shami’s inclusion in the list for the country’s second-highest sporting honor. These nominations highlight the exceptional performances and contributions of these athletes in their respective fields, showcasing their potential recognition for their achievements.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, bestowed by the Indian government through the Department of Sport, is an annual recognition presented to outstanding athletes who have demonstrated exceptional performance in their respective sports over a four-year period. This prestigious award, administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, carries a substantial cash prize of Rs 25 lakh. It stands as the pinnacle of achievement in the realm of sports, a coveted honor that every athlete aspires to attain during their career.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award Winner 2023

Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry announced the National Sports Awards 2023. The awardees had received their awards from the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Badminton duo Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest sporting honour, from President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

List of Awardees

Table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest sporting honour, from President Droupadi Murmu on 30th November at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

We have provided you with the list of all the important awards along with the awardees

Name of Award	Name of Awardee
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023	Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2022	Achanta Sharath Kamal.
Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2022	Seema Punia (Athletics) Eldhose Paul (Athletics) Avinash Mukund Sable (Athletics) Lakshya Sen (Badminton) HS Prannoy (Badminton) Amit (Boxing) Nikhat Zareen (Boxing) Bhakti Pradip Kulkarni (Chess) R Praggnanandhaa (Chess) Deep Grace Ekka (Hockey), Shushila Devi (Judo) Sakshi Kumari (Kabaddi) Nayan Moni Saikia (Lawn Bowl) Sagar Kailas Ovhalkar (Mallakhamb) Elavenil Valarivan (Shooting) Omprakash Mitharval (Shooting) Sreeja Akula (Table Tennis) Vikas Thakur (Weightlifting) Anshu (Wrestling), Sarita (Wrestling) Parveen (Wushu) Manasi Girishchandra Joshi (Para Badminton) Tarun Dhillon (Para Badminton) Swapnil Sanjay Patil (Para Swimming) Jerlin Anika J (Deaf Badminton).
Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games 2022 Regular Category	Jiwanjot Singh Teja (Archery) Mohammad Ali Qamar (Boxing) Suma Siddharth Shirur (Para Shooting) Sujeet Maan (Wrestling).
Lifetime Category	Dinesh Jawahar Lad (Cricket) Bimal Prafulla Ghosh (Football) Raj Singh (Wrestling).
Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games 2022	Ashwini Akkunji C (Athletics) Dharamvir Singh (Hockey) BC Suresh (Kabaddi) Nir Bahadur Gurung (Para Athletics).
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2022	TransStadia Enterprises Private Limited Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Ladakh Ski & Snowboard Association.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2022	Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

Who was Major Dhyan Chand?

Major Dhyan Chand, renowned as “The Wizard” of field hockey, was an exceptionally skilled player who represented India in international hockey from 1926 to 1949, amassing an impressive tally of over 400 goals.

Hailing from Allahabad, Dhyan Chand was a vital part of the Olympic gold-winning teams in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
Besides the Khel Ratna Award, the Dhyan Chand Award is the highest recognition in India for a lifetime of sports achievements, established in 2002. On the 29th of August every year, India observes National Sports Day in honor of Major Dhyan Chand, who was born on that date in 1905.
Starting from August 6, 2021, this award was renamed in honor of Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), an iconic Indian field hockey player celebrated as one of the greatest in the sport’s history, having netted over 1000 goals during a remarkable 20-year career spanning from 1926 to 1948.