Complete List of All Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award Winners
Explore the full list of Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award winners, India’s highest sporting honor, from 1991 to 2024. Discover all the athletes.

Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award Winners Complete List
The Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award is India’s highest sporting honor, established in 1991 to recognize exceptional sports performance at the international level. Originally known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the award was renamed in 2021 to honor Major Dhyanchand, one of the greatest field hockey players of all time.
This prestigious award is presented annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding performance in sports over four years. As of 2023, there have been 59 recipients across a range of disciplines, including athletics, cricket, shooting, and para-sports.
The award consists of a medallion, certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh. Let’s explore the complete list of Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award winners and their respective sports disciplines.
How Khel Ratna Award Winners Are Selected

The selection process for the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award involves a thorough evaluation by a 12-member committee formed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The committee assesses each athlete’s performance in international events like the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. After evaluation, the committee submits its recommendations to the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports for approval.