Not to be confused with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Dhyan Chand Award
Awarded forLifetime Achievement sporting honour in India
SponsorGovernment of India
Firstawarded2002
Lastawarded2024
Reward₹10
Award1 winner89
Award2 winner
  • Shahuraj Birajdar
  • Ashok Diwan
  • Aparna Ghosh
Award3 winner

The Major Dhyan Chand Award, officially known as Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games,[1] is the lifetime achievement sporting honour of the Republic of India. The award is named after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), a legendary Indian field hockey player who scored more than 1000 international goals during a career which spanned over 20 years from 1926 to 1948.[2] It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and are honoured for their contributions to sport both during their active sporting career and after retirement. As of 2020, the award comprises a statuette, a certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹10.[a][1]

Instituted in 2002, the award is given only to the disciplines included in the events like Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championship and World Cup along with Cricket, Indigenous Games, and Parasports.[3] The nominations for a given year are accepted till 30 April or last working day of April. A nine-member committee evaluates the nominations and later submits their recommendations to the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports for further approval.[1]

The first recipients of the award were Shahuraj Birajdar (Boxing), Ashok Diwan (Hockey), and Aparna Ghosh (Basketball), who were honoured in 2002.[4] Usually conferred upon not more than three sportspersons in a year, a few exceptions have been made (2003, 2012–2013, and 2018–2020) when more recipients were awarded.

Nominations

The nominations for the award are received from all government recognised National Sports Federations, the Indian Olympic Association, the Sports Authority of India, the Sports Promotion and Control Boards, and the state and the union territory governments with not more than two eligible sportspersons nominated for each sports discipline. The Sports Promotion and Control Boards of various Governments organizations includes the All India Police Sports Control Board, Army Sports Control Board, Railways Sports Promotion Board, Indian Navy Sports control Board, Air Force Sports Control Board, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, Air India Sports Promotion Board, SAIL Sports Promotion Board. In case of cricket, the nominations are received from the Board of Control for Cricket in India as there is no National Sports Federation recognised by the Government. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is authorised to submit the nominations on behalf of all the de-recognised or under suspension National Sports Federations. The previous award recipients of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, and Dhyan Chand Award can also nominate one sportsperson for the discipline for which they themselves were awarded. The Government can nominate up to two sportspersons in deserving cases where no such nominations have been received from the nominating authorities. The nominations for a given year are accepted till 30 April or last working day of April.[1]

Selection process

All the received nominations are sent to SAI and concerned National Sports Federations for verification against the claimed achievements. The National Anti-Doping Agency is responsible for providing doping clearance. Any sportsperson who is either penalised or being investigated for use of drugs or substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency is not eligible for the award along with the previous award recipients of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, and Dronacharya Award. A committee consisting of the Joint Secretary and the Director/Deputy Secretary of Department of Sports, the Secretary and the Executive Director/Director (TEAMS) of SAI verify and validate the nominations.[1]

The valid nominations are considered by a selection committee constituted by the Government. This nine member committee consists of a Chairperson nominated by the Ministry; four members who are either Olympians or previous recipients of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna or Dhyan Chand awards; two sports journalists/experts/commentators; one sports administrator; and the Director General of SAI and the Joint Secretary of Department of Sports; with not more than one sportsperson from any particular discipline being included in the committee.[1] The medals won in various International championships and events in disciplines included in Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games are given 70% weightage. The remaining 30% weightage is given for contributions made towards promotion of sports after the candidate's retirement from an active sporting career. For any other games not included in Olympic, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games like cricket and indigenous games, individual performances are taken into consideration. The sportsperson with maximum points is given 70 marks, while the remaining candidates are given marks in proportion to the maximum points. For team events, marks are given per the strength of the team.[1] Following are the points defined for medals at the given events:

Points for winning medals for the performance during entire sporting career
EventMedal
Olympic Games/Paralympic Games807055
World Championship/World Cup[b]403020
Asian Games302520
Commonwealth Games252015

For a given discipline, not more than two sportspersons, one male and one female, are given highest marks. The committee may not recommend the award to the sportsperson with the highest marks across disciplines but can only recommend the recipient of the highest aggregate marks in a particular sports discipline. The recommendations of the selection committee are submitted to the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports for further approval.[1]

Recipients

Key
List of award recipients, showing the year and discipline(s)[5]
YearRecipient(s)Discipline(s)Refs.
2002Shahuraj BirajdarBoxing[4]
Ashok DiwanHockey[4]
Aparna GhoshBasketball[4]
2003Charles CorneliusHockey[6]
Ram KumarBasketball[6]
Dharam SinghHockey[6]
Om PrakashVolleyball[6]
Smita Shirole YadavRowing[6]
2004Digamber MehendaleAthletics (Physically challenged)[7]
Hardayal SinghHockey[7]
Labh SinghAthletics[7]
2005Maruti ManeWrestling[8]
Manoj Kumar KothariBilliards & Snooker[8]
Rajinder SinghHockey[8]
2006Harishchandra BirajdarWrestling[9]
Uday K. PrabhuAthletics[9]
Nandy SinghHockey[9]
2007Rajinder SinghWrestling[10]
Shamsher SinghKabaddi[10]
Varinder SinghHockey[10]
2008Gian SinghWrestling[11]
Hakam SinghAthletics[11]
Mukhbain SinghHockey[11]
2009Satbir Singh DahiyaWrestling[12]
Ishar Singh DeolAthletics[12]
2010Anita ChanuWeightlifting[13]
Satish PillaiAthletics[13]
Kuldeep SinghWrestling[13]
2011Shabbir AliFootball[14]
Sushil KohliSwimming[14]
Rajkumar BaislaWrestling[15]
2012Gundeep KumarHockey[16]
Vinod KumarWrestling[16]
Jagraj Singh MannAthletics[16]
Sukhbir Singh TokasPara-Sports[16]
2013Syed AliHockey[17]
Anil MannWrestling[17]
Mary D'Souza SequeiraAthletics[17]
Girraj SinghAthletics (Parasports)[17]
2014Zeeshan AliTennis[18]
Gurmail SinghHockey[18]
K. P. ThakkarSwimming[18]
2015Romeo JamesHockey[19]
Shiv Prakash MishraTennis[19]
T. P. Padmanabhan NairVolleyball[19]
2016Sylvanus Dung DungHockey[20]
Sathi GeethaAthletics[20]
Rajendra Pralhad ShelkeRowing[20]
2017Bhupender SinghAthletics[21]
Syed Shahid HakimFootball[21]
Sumrai TeteHockey[21]
2018Satyadev PrasadArchery[22]
Bharat ChettriHockey[22]
Bobby AloysiusAthletics[22]
Dadu Dattatray ChougaleWrestling[22]
2019Manuel FrederickHockey[23]
Arup BasakTable Tennis[23]
Manoj KumarWrestling[23]
Nitin KirtaneTennis[23]
Chhangte LalremsangaArchery[23]
2020Kuldip Singh BhullarAthletics[24]
Jincy PhilipsAthletics[24]
Pradeep Shrikrishna GandheBadminton[24]
Trupti Murgunde[24]
Usha NagisettyBoxing[24]
Lakha Singh[24]
Sukhvinder Singh SandhuFootball[24]
Ajit Pal SinghHockey[24]
Manpreet SinghKabaddi[24]
Ranjith Kumar JayaseelanPara Athletics[24]
Satyaprakash TiwariPara Badminton[24]
Manjeet SinghRowing[24]
Sachin NagSwimming[24]
Nandan BalTennis[24]
Netarpal HoodaWrestling[24]
2021Lekha K.C.Boxing[25]
Abhijit KunteChess[25]
Davinder SinghHockey[25]
Vikas KumarKabaddi[25]
Sajan SinghWrestling[25]
2022Ashwini AkkunjiAthletics[26]
Dharamvir SinghHockey[26]
B.C. SureshKabaddi[26]
Nir Bahadur GurungPara Athletics[26]
2023Manjusha KanwarBadminton[27]
Vineet Kumar SharmaHockey[27]
Kavitha SelvarajKabaddi[27]
2024Sucha SinghAthletics[28]
Murlikant PetkarPara Swimming[28]

Controversies

In August 2015, the Ministry announced the award to Romeo James (Hockey), Shiv Prakash Mishra (Tennis), and T. P. Padmanabhan Nair (Volleyball).[19] A Public-Interest Litigation was filed in the Madras High Court by Paralympic athlete Ranjith Kumar Jayaseelan. The petitioner mentioned that he submitted the nomination after fulfilling the criteria by getting 60% for medals and 30% for contributing for sports promotion. Kumar requested to annul the award announced on three recipients. The Court ordered a notice to the Ministry seeking an explanation about the selection.[29]

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ The cash prize was revised from ₹3 to ₹5 in 2009,[11][12] and to ₹10 in 2020.[30]
  2. ^ A World Championship/World Cup is generally organised every four years. For different cyclicities, proportionate marks are given.

References

  1. ^ "Scheme for the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games (Amended as on 3 February 2016)". Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. 3 February 2016. p. 11. Archived 29 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Discover hockey's answer to Pele". BBC Sports Academy. BBC. 26 February 2004. Archived 1 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 October 2015. * Dhaliwal, Ravi (28 August 2009). "Dhyan Chand: Player, legend and the man". The Tribune. Archived 20 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Dhyan Chand Award for Life Time Achievement in Sports and Games". Press Information Bureau, India. 7 February 2004. Archived 1 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  4. ^ "President presents Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dronacharya Awards". Press Information Bureau, India. 29 August 2002. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  5. ^ "List of Dhyan Chand Awardees". Sports Authority of India. Archived 14 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Arjuna Awards, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dhyan Chand and Dronacharya Awards given away". Press Information Bureau, India. 29 August 2003. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. ^ "President gives away Arjuna Awards and Dronacharya Awards". Press Information Bureau, India. 21 September 2004. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  8. ^ "President gives away Arjuna Awards and Dronacharya Awards". Press Information Bureau, India. 29 August 2005. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, 2005, Arjuna awards 2005, Dhyan Chand awards, 2006 and Dronacharya awards for the year 2005 Announced". Press Information Bureau, India. 23 August 2006. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  10. ^ "President gives away Arjuna Awards and Dronacharya Awards". Press Information Bureau, India. 29 August 2007. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna & Arjuna Awards announced". Press Information Bureau, India. 19 August 2008. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards and other Sports Awards Announced". Press Information Bureau, India. 29 July 2009. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  13. ^ "President Gives Away Sports and Adventure Awards". Press Information Bureau, India. 29 August 2010. Archived 8 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards and other Sports Awards Announced". Press Information Bureau, India. 18 August 2011. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  15. ^ "कुश्ती प्रतियोगिता का समापन, पहलवानों को किया सम्मानित". Archived 31 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  16. ^ "President Gives Away National Sports and Adventure Awards". Press Information Bureau, India. 29 August 2012. Archived 8 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards". Press Information Bureau, India. 22 August 2013. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  18. ^ "National Sports Awards 2014". Press Information Bureau, India. 21 August 2014. Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  19. ^ "National Sports and Adventure Awards". Press Information Bureau, India. 29 August 2015. Archived 8 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  20. ^ "National Sports Awards 2016". Press Information Bureau, India. 22 August 2016. Archived 25 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  21. ^ "National Sports Awards 2017". Press Information Bureau, India. 22 August 2017. Archived 23 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  22. ^ "National Sports Awards 2018 announced; Mirabai Chanu and Virat Kohli to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna". Press Information Bureau, India. 20 September 2018. Archived 17 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  23. ^ "National Sports Awards 2018 announced; Bajrang Punia and Deepa Malik to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award". Press Information Bureau, India. 20 August 2019. Archived 4 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  24. ^ "National Sports Awards 2020 announced – Rohit Sharma, Mariyappan T., Manik Batra, Ms Vinesh and Ms Rani bag the Khel Ratna". Press Information Bureau, India. 21 August 2020. Archived 22 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  25. ^ "National Sports Awards 2021 announced". Press Information Bureau, India. 2 November 2021. Archived 16 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announces National Sports Awards 2022". Press Information Bureau, India. 14 November 2022. Archived 14 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  27. ^ "Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announces National Sports Awards 2023". Press Information Bureau, India. 20 December 2022. Archived 4 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announces National Sports Awards 2024". Press Information Bureau, India. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Notice to government on plea by Madurai paralympics athlete". The Times of India. 29 August 2015. Archived 6 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Khel Ratna awardees to receive 25 lakh, 15 lakh for Arjuna awardees". The Indian Express. 29 August 2020. Archived 16 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 August 2020.