Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award to be replaced by Arjuna Lifetime Award

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced on Thursday that the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award will be discontinued from this year.

It will be replaced by the newly introduced Arjuna Lifetime Award, aimed at streamlining the various national sports honors.

The Dhyan Chand Lifetime Award, named after the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, was instituted in 2002.

It has been awarded to individuals excelling in Olympic, Paralympic, Asian, and Commonwealth Games disciplines. In 2023, the award was given to former badminton player Manjusha Kanwar, ex-hockey player Vineet Kumar, and kabaddi player Kavitha Selvaraj.

According to the ministry's statement, the Arjuna Lifetime Award will now recognize individuals for their lifelong contribution to sports development.

Additionally, grassroots coaches will now be eligible for the Dronacharya Award to honor their efforts in nurturing talent.

The ministry also announced changes regarding the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.

This award, which traditionally recognizes universities for overall sports performance, will now honor top-performing institutions in the Khelo India University Games.

The deadline for applications for the 2024 national sports awards has been set for November 14.