Awards are the proof of an individual’s hard work and achievements in a particular field. Moreover, they are a huge factor in inspiring people to do better. Honouring people with awards and celebrating their achievements nationally is the best way to give people the recognition they deserve. One sports award that does that is the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
The Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the most prestigious sports award in India. It honors athletes who show exceptional skill and dedication. Additionally, this award covers all sports, from cricket to wrestling.
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A Brief History of Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna
Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna was first introduced in 1991. The award was named after the late Rajeev Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. “Khel Ratna” means a ‘Sports Gem’. The first athlete to receive the award was India’s chess grandmaster, Vishwanathan Anand.
However, it is only awarded to excellent Indian athletes in various sports activities. The award’s name was again revised in 2021 to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. It has a medal ceremony and up to 25 lakh rupees in prize money. The award is provided annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
The Selection Process
Any National Sports Federation that has been recognised by the Indian government is eligible to nominate people. There is a limit of 2 nominations for each sports discipline. These nominations are accepted till the last working day of April.
The selection criteria for the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award are simple but extremely strict. It depends on the athletes’ performance in the National and International events. Primarily, the focus remains on the International achievements of the past 4 years. The government then appoints a 12-person committee. The purpose of this committee is to analyse the achievements of the nominees in an unbiased manner.
The Gems of Indian Sports
Neeraj Chopra
Often referred to as ‘The Golden Boy”, he is one of the most successful Indian sportsperson. Neeraj Chopra has represented our country in Javelin throw in multiple international events. Moreover, he is an Olympian with a Gold and a Silver medal in 2 consecutive Olympics. He was awarded the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2021 after his win at the Tokyo Olympics.
Mirabai Chanu
She is one of the 2 winners of the 2018 Khel Ratna Award. Mirabai Chanu is a weightlifter who has made India proud on several occasions. After a stunning performance, she won the Silver medal at the 2021 Olympics. And even before that, she has performed well at other international events.
However, she was unable to win a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in a close loss, where she ended up in the 4th position.
Vishwanathan Anand
Vishwanathan Anand is a multiple-time world champion in chess. Additionally, he was the first-ever recipient of the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. With his personal achievements in national and international events, he was unarguably a great fit for the award.
Even after retiring, his passion for chess didn’t decrease. He has inspired a lot of young talents in India to pursue chess. And now, India is one of the big powerhouses in the International chess community.
Leander Paes
In the case of Paes, he received the Khel Ratna after he bagged a couple of bronze medals in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. His victory ensured that the country was back on the Olympic podium in tennis for years to come. Later, he rose in the ranks to be among the most decorated doubles players in tennis.
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, the Master-Blaster of India. He is one of the few cricketers to have received this award. He is one of the greatest cricketers to touch the bat. With the records he has set, it has been ensured that his name will go down in the annals of history.
His achievements have been decorated with various prestigious awards. Thus, he was awarded with Arjuna Award in 1994, followed by the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1997, Padma Shri in 1998, and Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
Karnam Malleswari
Karnam Malleswari, a weight-lifting sportswoman, bagged a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was something that created a precedent. She became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, thus, inspiring women across the whole nation.
However, even before her win, she was a sensation in Indian sports. As a testament to that, she was awarded the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1994.
P. V. Sindhu
P. V. Sindhu is one of the best badminton players from India. She won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016, making the entire country proud. Moreover, she received the prestigious Khel Ratna the same year.
Even at the 2021 Olympics, she did not disappoint and managed to snatch a silver medal. However, she couldn’t achieve the same feat at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Virat Kohli
There were only 2 winners of the Khel Ratna Award in the year 2018. One was Mirabai Chanu, while the other was Virat Kohli. He is arguably the best batsman the Indian cricket team has ever had. When he was presented with the award, Virat was serving as the captain of the Indian Cricket team. He has bailed India out in several clutch situations. Being one of the best naturally qualifies him for the most prestigious sports award of India.
Rohit Sharma
In 2020, Rohit Sharma became the 4th Indian cricketer to be honored with the Khel Ratna Award. He is one of the best ODI players of India. Moreover, with a personal best of 264 against Sri Lanka, he set the record for the highest individual total in an International ODI match.
Moreover, he led India to become the world champion in the 2024 World Cup. With his personal accolades, he was absolutely deserving of the award.
Conclusion
The Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, now known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna is the highest sports honor of India. It recognises the efforts of those who not only put in the effort but also achieved greatness. Moreover, every individual who won this award has made India proud on the international stage. It has now become a huge motivating factor for Indian sportsmen. Thus, the pervasive tradition of this award will continue in the development of Indian sports in the future.
FAQs
Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna is the most prestigious sports award of India. However, the Government of India revised its name to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2021.
No, the Khel Ratna Award is given to athletes only. However, the Dronacharya award honors the best coaches across the nation.
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