Khel Ratna Awards

Rajiv Gandhi KHEL RATNA awards

·      This is the most prestigious award in the field of sports in India. Viswanathan Anand (Chess) was the first recipient of the award.

·      Instituted by the Government of India in 1991-92, the award is given to the most outstanding Indian sportsperson of the year.

Started with the initial cash award of Rs 500,000, the amount has been raised to Rs 750,000 from 2004-05. Besides the cash the recipient gets a medal and a scroll of honour.

List of awardees

1991-92 Viswanathan Anand (Chess)

1992-93 Geet Sethi Billiards

1993-94 Not Conferred

1994-95 Cdr. Homi D. Motivala (Joint) Yachting (Team Event)

1994-95 Lt. Cdr. P. K. Garg (Joint) Yachting (Team Event)

1995-96 Karnam Malleswari Weightlifting

1996-97 Nameirakpam Kunjarani (Joint) Weightlifting

1996-97 Leander Paes (Joint) Tennis

1997-98 Sachin Tendulkar Cricket

1998-99 Jyotirmoyee Sikdar Athletics

1999-2000 Dhanraj Pillay Hockey

2000-01 Pullela Gopichand Badminton

2001-02 Abhinav Bindra Shooting

2002-03 Anjali Ved Pathak Bhagwat(Joint) Shooting

2002-03 K. M. Beenamol (Joint) Athletics

2003-04 Anju Bobby George Athletics

2004-05 Lt. Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Shooting

2005-06 Pankaj Advani Billiards and Snooker

2006-07 Manavjit Singh Sandhu Shooting

2007-08 Mahendra Singh Dhoni Cricket

2008-09 Mary Kom (Joint) Boxing

2008-09 Vijender Singh (Joint) Boxing

2008-09 Sushil Kumar (Joint) Wrestling

2009-10 Saina Nehwal Badminton