Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award Winners 2021

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna formerly known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (up until 2021) is named after the legendary Indian Hockey wizard, Dhyan Chand.

It is the highest honor bestowed in the sphere of sports and games, and it is bestowed yearly by the Government of India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS).

MYAS published the list of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna winners on November 2, with the ceremony slated for November 13 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Government of India has raised the prize money for Khel Ratna Award from Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 25 lakhs and for Lifetime awardees it was increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh back on August 29, 2020.

Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics champion 2020, women's cricketer Mithali Raj, and veteran player Sunil Chhetri are among those on this year's list.

Basic Facts

  • Instituted in – 1992.
  • Official Name – Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games.
  • Former Name – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.
  • Renamed on – 2021 August 6.
  • Presented by – President of India.
  • Prize – Cash Prize of ₹25 Lakh, Medallion & a Certificate.
  • First Recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna – Viswanathan Anand (Chess).
  • First Woman to receive Khel Ratna Award – Karnam Malleswari.
  • First Football player to receive Khel Ratna Award – Sunil Chetri.
  • First Malayali to win Khel Ratna Award – K.M. Beenamol (Athletics, 2002).
    • Second Malayali recipient of Khel Ratna Award – Anju Bobby George (Athletics, 2002).
  • Youngest Recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna – Abhinav Bindra (18 years old, 2001).
  • Only sportsperson to have won the award for two sports categories – Pankaj Advani (Billiards & Snooker).
  • No Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards were declared in the years – 2008 & 2014.

    Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award Winners 2021

    1. Neeraj Chopra (Athletics).
    2. P.R Sreejesh (Hockey).
    3. Manpreet Singh (Hockey).
    4. Ravi Kumar(Wrestling).
    5. Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing).
    6. Mithali Raj (Cricket).
    7. Sunil Chhetri (Football).

    Para Athletes

    1. Avani Lekhara (Para Shooting).
    2. Sumit Antil (Para-Athletics).
    3. Pramod Bhagat (Para Badminton).
    4. Krishna Nagar (Para Badminton).
    5. Manish Narwal (Para Shooting). 

    List of First Khel Ratna Recipients in Each Category

    The following table lists the first recipient of Khel Ratna Award Winners in each category:

    RecipientsDiscipline
    AthleticsJyotirmoyee Sikdar
    Badminton Pullela Gopichand
    BilliardsGeet Sethi
    Boxing Mary Kom
    ChessViswanathan Anand
    CricketSachin Tendulkar
    FootballSunil Chetri
    GymnasticsDipa Karmakar
    HockeyDhanraj Pillay
    ShootingAbhinav Bindra
    Tennis
    		Leander Paes
    WeightliftingKarnam Malleswari
    WrestlingSushil Kumar
    YachtingHomi Motivala &
    Pushpendra Kumar Garg
     
    • First Para-athlete to be honored with Khel Ratna - Devendra Jhajharia. 
    • First Female Athlete to receive Khel Ratna Award – Jyotirmoyee Sikdar.
    • First Woman Wrestler to be awarded Khel Ratna Award – Sakshi Malik.
    • First Female shooter to receive Khel Ratna - Anjali Bhagwat.
     

    List of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Recipients

    The complete list of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Recipients so far.


    YearRecipientsDiscipline
    1991–1992Viswanathan AnandChess
    1992–1993Geet SethiBilliards
    1993–1994Homi MotivalaYachting
    1993–1994Pushpendra Kumar GargYachting
    1994–1995Karnam MalleswariWeightlifting
    1995–1996Nameirakpam KunjaraniWeightlifting
    1996–1997Leander PaesTennis
    1997–1998Sachin TendulkarCricket
    1998–1999Jyotirmoyee SikdarAthletics
    1999–2000Dhanraj PillayHockey
    2000Pullela GopichandBadminton
    2001Abhinav BindraShooting
    2002K. M. BeenamolAthletics
    2002Anjali BhagwatShooting
    2003Anju Bobby GeorgeAthletics
    2004Rajyavardhan Singh RathoreShooting
    2005Pankaj AdvaniBilliards & Snooker
    2006Manavjit Singh SandhuShooting
    2007Mahendra Singh DhoniCricket
    2008No Award-
    2009Mary KomBoxing
    2009Vijender SinghBoxing
    2009Sushil KumarWrestling
    2010Saina NehwalBadminton
    2011Gagan NarangShooting
    2012Vijay KumarShooting
    2012Yogeshwar DuttWrestling
    2013Ronjan SodhiShooting
    2014No Award-
    2015Sania MirzaTennis
    2016P. V. SindhuBadminton
    2016Dipa KarmakarGymnastics
    2016Jitu RaiShooting
    2016Sakshi MalikWrestling
    2017Devendra JhajhariaParalympic Javelin
    2017Sardara SinghHockey
    2018Saikhom Mirabai ChanuWeightlifting
    2018Virat KohliCricket
    2019Deepa MalikParalympic Shot Put
    2019Bajrang PuniaWrestling
    2020Rohit SharmaCricket
    2020Mariyappan ThangaveluParalympic High Jump
    2020Manika BatraTable Tennis
    2020Vinesh PhogatWrestling
    2020Rani RampalHockey

     

    📝SideNotes:
    • National Sports Day – August 29 (birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand).
    • The hockey player who is also known as 'The Wizard'  – Major Dhyan Chand.

    Thanks for reading!!!