In India, every year, the National Sports Awards ceremony is hosted, where sports athletes are honored for their exceptional performances. Athletes from various disciplines receive accolades, and their achievements make the country proud. The ceremony is held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with the awards being presented to the athletes by the President of India.
Like every year, this year too, the National Sports Awards ceremony was held, where various athletes were honored by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In this award ceremony, several prestigious national awards were given to sports athletes. For instance, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award was conferred upon Manu Bhaker, the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting, with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event at Paris 2024. The award was also given to World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, among other players.
The National Sports Awards
The National Sports Awards ceremony is one of the most prestigious events, celebrating the exceptional achievements of athletes and coaches in their respective sports. These awards honor players for making the country proud with their exceptional performances. Established in 1961, the primary objective of the National Sports Awards is to increase sports awareness among Indians by recognizing the efforts and hard work of athletes for their country.
During the ceremony, different types of national awards are given to athletes. The highest award for sports players is the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, followed by the Dronacharya Awards and the Arjuna Award.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is one of the highest and most prestigious awards given to sports athletes by the President of India. This award is presented for outstanding performance at the international level in the sports category over the previous four years.
Arjuna Award
The Arjuna Award is the second-highest sports award, following the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. It is given to athletes for excellence and remarkable achievements in national and international competitions.
Dronacharya Awards
The Dronacharya Award is a national sports award given to coaches for their dedication in training athletes or teams, helping them achieve international success.
These Athletes Received Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award at the National Sports Awards 2025
On January 17, 2025, the National Sports Awards 2025 ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where national awards were presented to athletes by the President of India.
Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award at Rashtrapati Bhavan, presented by the President of India during the National Sports Awards ceremony. She was honored with this award for winning an Olympic bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event at Paris 2024.
After receiving the award, she thanked India and the President, stating:
This award is not just for me; it’s for every young shooter in India who dreams big.
Gukesh Dommaraju (D. Gukesh)
D. Gukesh was honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award at the National Sports Awards 2025 ceremony for becoming the youngest World Chess Champion, defeating Ding Liren at the FIDE World Championship in December 2024.
During his award acceptance speech, D. Gukesh stated:
This recognition inspires me to work even harder and achieve more for my country.
Praveen Kumar
Praveen Kumar received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for winning a gold medal in the men’s high jump T64 class at the Paris Paralympics. Despite his disabilities, he pursued his dreams and made the country proud.
During his acceptance speech, Praveen Kumar stated:
“This award shows that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself.”
Harmanpreet Singh
Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, led his team to secure a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. He was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award during the 2025 award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Winning this award is a reflection of our team’s hard work and dedication.
