ABOUT ARJUNA AWARD
Arjuna Award is given for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games. Also, this is the second highest sporting honoring award, leading by the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Furthermore, the award is named after Arjuna, one of the characters from ancient Indian Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. After, the Rama, Lakshmana, Parshuram, people consider Arjuna one of the finest fighters of ancient India. Moreover, Hindus regard him as a symbol of determination, dedication, and focus. Notably, before the of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratan was introduced in 1991-1992, Arjuna Award was the highest sporting honor in India. Additionally, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports awards it annually. In 1961, the Ministry gave the first award to twenty players in various sports category.
BACKGROUND OF ARJUNA AWARD
All government recognized sports organizations, such as, the National Sports Federations, Indian Olympic Association, SAI, Sports Promotion and Control Boards, the state and the union territory government, and previous years’ Major Dhyan Chandra Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dhyan Chand and Dron Acharya awardees, nominate candidates for Arjuna Award.
In addition, to “excellent achievement in the field of athletics over a period of four years,” selectors identify awardees for their “quality leadership, sportsmanship and sense of discipline” at international level. Furthermore, the award includes, a bronze figure of Arjuna, ceremonial dress, certificate, and a cash price of ₹15 lakh. Importantly, the President of India presents the award.
HISTORY
Since 2001, the award has been given in the following categories: –
- International level: – Olympic Games/ Asian Games/ Commonwealth Games/ World Cup/ World Champion Disciplines
- Indigenous: – Native Games
- For Para Sports
ELIGIBILITY
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has established several criteria for sportsperson to be eligible for Arjuna Award.
To be eligible, a sportsperson must demonstrate:
- Consistent outstanding performance in international as well as national events for at least four years.
- Qualities of sportsmanship, leadership, and a strong sense of discipline.
2024 ARJUNA AWARD WINNER
During the 2024 award ceremony, President Draupadi Murmu honored 26 athletes with the Arjuna Award, most of whom participated in 2023 Asian Games, where India made history by winning over 100 medals. Among the 26 awardees was cricketer Mohammed Shami, who took 24 wickets in the 2023 One Day World Cup, becoming the top wicket-taker through his excellent fast bowling. Shami is the 58th cricketer from India to receive this honor.
Moving on, let’s celebrate the remarkable achievements of the 2024 winners.
| Name | Sport |
|---|---|
| Ojas Pravin Deotale | Archery |
| Aditi Gopichand Swami | Archery |
| Murali Sreeshankar | Athletics |
| Parul Chaudhary | Athletics |
| Mohameed Hussamuddin | Boxing |
| R Vaishali | Chess |
| Mohammed Shami | Cricket |
| Anush Agarwalla | Equestrian |
| Diksha Dagar | Golf |
| Krishan Bahadur Pathak | Hockey |
| Sushila Chanu | Hockey |
| Pawan Kumar | Kabaddi |
| Ritu Negi | Kabaddi |
| Nasreen | Kho-kho |
| Pinki | Lawn Bowls |
| Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar | Shooting |
| Esha Singh | Shooting |
| Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu | Squash |
| Ayhika Mukherjee | Table Tennis |
| Sunil Kumar | Wrestling |
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