New Delhi, Nov 14 (FN Agency) President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday presented the National Sports Awards 2021 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, including the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards, Dronacharya Award and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar. Winners of Major Dhyan Chandra Khel Ratna included Neeraj Chopra for Athletics, Ravi Kumar for wrestling, Lovlina Borgohain for boxing, Sreejesh PR for Hockey, Avani Lekhara and Manish Narwal for Para Shooting, Sumit Antil for Para-Athletics, Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar for Para Badminton, Mithali Raj for Cricket, Sunil Chhetri for Football, and Manpreet Singh for Hockey.
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. The President also presented Dronacharya Award to outstanding coaches in Sports and Games, Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports & Games, and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar. Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games were given to 35 sportspersons, Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games were given to five coaches in lifetime category, and to five in regular category. Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement in Sports and Games were given to five sportspersons, and two institutions – Manav Rachna Educational Institution and Indian Oil Corporation Limited were given the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2021 was given to Panjab University.