Most awaited National Sports Awards 2021 announced on 2nd November. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on 13th November, 2021 (Saturday) at 1630 hrs. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2021 like each year.
A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by the Selection Committee headed by Justice (Retd.) Mukundakam Sharma (former Judge of Supreme Court), consisting members from eminent sportspersons and persons having experience in sports journalism & sports administrator etc. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has decided to confer awards upon the following sportspersons, coaches and entities:
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of previous four years. This year twelve will be awarded this prestigious award.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2021:
| S. No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Discipline |
| 1. | Neeraj Chopra | Athletics |
| 2. | Ravi Kumar | Wrestling |
| 3. | Lovlina Borgohain | Boxing |
| 4. | Sreejesh P.R | Hockey |
| 5. | Avani Lekhara | Para Shooting |
| 6. | Sumit Antil | Para Athletics |
| 7. | Pramod Bhagat | Para Badminton |
| 8. | Krishna Nagar | Para Badminton |
| 9. | Manish Narwal | Para Shooting |
| 10. | Mithali Raj | Cricket |
| 11. | Sunil Chhetri | Football |
| 12. | Manpreet Singh | Hockey |
Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games’ is given for good performance over a period of previous four years and showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. This year 35 Sports persons will receive Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2021.
Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2021
| S. No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Discipline |
| 1 | Arpinder Singh | Athletics |
| 2 | Simranjit Kaur | Boxing |
| 3 | Shikhar Dhawan | Cricket |
| 4 | Bhavani Devi Chadalavada Anandha Sundhararaman | Fencing |
| 5 | Monika | Hockey |
| 6 | Vandana Katariya | Hockey |
| 7 | Sandeep Narwal | Kabaddi |
| 8 | Himani Uttam Parab | Mallakhamb |
| 9 | Abhishek Verma | Shooting |
| 10 | Ankita Raina | Tennis |
| 11 | Deepak Punia | Wrestling |
| 12 | Dilpreet Singh | Hockey |
| 13 | Harman Preet Singh | Hockey |
| 14 | Rupinder Pal Singh | Hockey |
| 15 | Surender Kumar | Hockey |
| 16 | Amit Rohidas | Hockey |
| 17 | Birendra Lakra | Hockey |
| 18 | Sumit | Hockey |
| 19 | Nilakanta Sharma | Hockey |
| 20 | Hardik Singh | Hockey |
| 21 | Vivek Sagar Prasad | Hockey |
| 22 | Gurjant Singh | Hockey |
| 23 | Mandeep Singh | Hockey |
| 24 | Shamsher Singh | Hockey |
| 25 | Lalit Kumar Upadhyay | Hockey |
| 26 | Varun Kumar | Hockey |
| 27 | Simranjeet Singh | Hockey |
| 28 | Yogesh Kathuniya | Para Athletics |
| 29 | Nishad Kumar | Para Athletics |
| 30 | Praveen Kumar | Para Athletics |
| 31 | Suhash Yathiraj | Para Badminton |
| 32 | Singhraj Adhana | Para Shooting |
| 33 | Bhavina Patel | Para Table Tennis |
| 34 | Harvinder Singh | Para Archery |
| 35 | Sharad Kumar | Para Athletics |
Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games’ is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and enabling sportspersons to excel in International events.
Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games 2021
A. Life-Time Category:
| S. No. | Name of the Coach | Discipline |
| 1 | T. P. Ouseph | Athletics |
| 2 | Sarkar Talwar | Cricket |
| 3 | Sarpal Singh | Hockey |
| 4 | Ashan Kumar | Kabaddi |
| 5 | Tapan Kumar Panigrahi | Swimming |
- Regular Category:
| S. No. | Name of the Coach | Discipline |
| 1 | Radhakrishnan Nair P | Athletics |
| 2 | Sandhya Gurung | Boxing |
| 3 | Pritam Siwach | Hockey |
| 4 | Jai Prakash Nautiyal | Para Shooting |
| 5 | Subramanian Raman | Table Tennis |
Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement in Sports and Games’ is given to honour sportspersons who have contributed to sports by their performance and continue to contribute to promotion of sports event after their retirement. This year five awardees for the same.
Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement in Sports and Games 2021
| S.No. | Name | Discipline |
| 1 | Lekha K.C. | Boxing |
| 2 | Abhijeet Kunte | Chess |
| 3 | Davinder Singh Garcha | Hockey |
| 4 | Vikas Kumar | Kabaddi |
| 5 | Sajjan Singh | Wrestling |
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar is given to corporate entities (both in private and public sector), sports control boards, NGOs including sports bodies at the State and National level who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2021
| S. No. | Category | Entity recommended for Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, 2021 |
| 1. | Identification and Nurturing of Budding and Young Talent | Manav Rachna Educational Institution |
| 2. | Encouragement to sports through Corporate Social Responsibility | Indian Oil Corporation Limited |
Lastly, over all top performing university in inter-university tournaments is given Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2021: Panjab University – Chandigarh
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award – 2020
S. No. Name State Category
1. Ms. Priyanka Mangesh Mohite – Maharashtra -Land Adventure
2. Sh. Jay Prakash Kumar- Jharkhand- Land Adventure
3. Col. Amit Bisht -Uttarakhand- Land Adventure
4. Ms. Sheetal Uttarakhand -Land Adventure
5. Sh. Srikaanth Viswanathan -Karnataka -Water Adventure
6. Lt. Col. Servesh Dhadwal – Punjab- Air Adventure
7. Sh. Jai Kishan -Delhi- Life Time Achievement.
All are looking forward to the award function scheduled at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on 13th November, 2021.
Dronacharya Award 2021 Life-Time Category is awarded to senior swimming coach Shri. Tapan Kumar Panigrahi for his outstanding and meritorious work to the sport.
 |
Dr. Meenakshi Pahuja, International Swimmer and Assistant Professor, Physical Education Swimming Expert & Sports Consultant Author, Swimming Statistical Bulletin www.indiaswimming.com |
