Sports Awards in India are bestowed by the Sports Ministry, Government of India to various sports personalities in different fields for their accomplishments and outstanding performances. Since 2001, the Sports awards are given only in those events that fall under the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championship or the World Cup and also in Cricket. These awards are also given for the National level competitions and for Sports intended for the Physically Challenged.
These awards include the Arjuna Award, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the Dronacharya Awards and the Dhyan ChandAward. Initially, the Government used to confer these awards to the sportspersons for their performances in all types of competitions. However, from the year 2001, the Sports award is given only in those disciplines that fall under the categories like the Olympic Games or the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games or the World Cup or World Championship disciplines and also in Cricket. These awards are also given for the Indigenous competitions and for the Sports for the Physically Challenged. Some of the most reputed and popular Sports Awards in India are mentioned below-
Dronacharya Award
There is another award in India that is named as the Dronacharya Award and the Government of India instituted this honourable award in the year of 1985. The award is named after the very famous archery coach, mentioned in the epic of India known as the Mahabharata. This very award is not related with the sportspersons who are still playing in the field; instead this is related to those eminent coaches of any particular sport. These coaches are selected by their performance of being successful to train the sportspersons or teams and also help them to achieve the outstanding results in the international competitions. The person, who gets the award, receives a statuette of the great Guru Dronacharya, a scroll of honour, a ceremonial dress and also a cash prize.
Arjuna Award
The Government of India established the Arjuna Awards in India in the year of 1961 for the outstanding performance from the sportspersons in sports and games. The Government has modified the format of Arjuna Award very recently and as per the revised schematic guidelines a sportsperson must have very good consistent performances for the previous 3 years at the international level to be considered as eligible for the Award. The person should also have excellence in his or her respective field of sport for the year for which the Award is recommended he or she should show some extraordinary qualities like the leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline in his or her own field throughout his or her career. The Government gives a statuette of the legendary warrior Arjuna, a scroll of honour, a ceremonial dress and also a cash award of an amount of Rs.3 lakhs to the Awardees.
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