All Kabaddi Players and Coaches Who Have Won the National Awards

Kabaddi, a thrilling team sport rooted in India, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. But the dedication and talent of Kabaddi athletes and coaches haven't gone unnoticed. India recognizes their achievements with prestigious national awards. Here's a breakdown of some key awards given to Kabaddi stars:

Arjuna Award: This award recognizes the "best performers in a year" in Kabaddi. Since 1972, numerous players, both men and women, have received the Arjuna Award. Some notable names include Ajay Thakur (Himachal Pradesh), Manjeet Chhillar (Haryana), and the recently awarded Pawan Sehrawat (Delhi) and Ritu Negi (Himachal Pradesh) for 2024.

Winners of the Arjuna Award:

1972 – Sahanand Mahadev Shetty – Maharashtra
1973 – Bholanath Guin – West Bengal
1978 – Shakuntala Pandarinath Khatavkar – Maharashtra
1980 – Shantaram Jadhav – Maharashtra
1981 – Monika Nath – West Bengal
1983 – Maya Kashinath – Maharashtra
1986 – Rama Sarkar – West Bengal
1990 – Hardeep Singh – Punjab
1994 – S. Rajarathnam – Tamil Nadu
1994 – Ashok Shinde – Maharashtra
1995 – P. Ganeshan – Tamil Nadu
1996 – Shriram Bhavsar – Maharashtra
1996 – Neeta Moreshwer Dadwe – Maharastra
1997 – Randhir Singh – Delhi
1998 – Ashan Kumar – Haryana
1998 – Bishwajit Palit – West Bengal
1999 – Balwinder Singh (Piddha) – Punjab
1999 – Tirath Raj – Delhi
2000 – C. Honnappa Gowda – Karnataka
2001 – B.C. Ramesh – Karnataka
2002 – Ram Mehar Singh – Punjab
2003 – Sanjeev Kumar – Himachal Pradesh
2004 – Sunder Singh – Delhi
2005 – Ramesh Kumar – Haryana
2006 – Navneet Gautam – Rajasthan
2009 – Pankaj Navnath Shirsat – Maharashtra
2010 – Dinesh Kumar – Delhi
2011 – Rakesh Kumar – Delhi
2011 – Tejeswini Bai – Karnataka
2012 – Anoop Kumar – Delhi
2014 – Mamtha Poojari – Karnataka
2015 – Manjeet Chhillar – Haryana
2015 – Abhilasha Shashikant Mahatre – Maharastra
2017 – Jasvir Singh – Punjab
2019 – Ajay Thakur – Himachal Pradesh
2020 – Deepak Hooda – Rajasthan
2021 – Sandeep Narwal – Haryana
2022 – Sakshi Kumari – Haryana
2024 – Pawan Sehrawat – Delhi
2024 – Ritu Negi – Himachal Pradesh

Dronacharya Award: This award, considered the highest honor for coaches in India, recognizes the coaches who have played a crucial role in shaping Kabaddi players. Ejjapureddi Prasad Rao (Andhra Pradesh), Balwan Singh (Punjab), and Ashan Kumar (Haryana) are just a few coaches who have received this prestigious award for their dedication to nurturing Kabaddi talent.

Winners of the Dronacharya Awad:

2002 – Ejjapureddi Prasad Rao – Andhra Pradesh
2005 – Balwan Singh – Punjab
2012 – Sunil Dabas – Haryana
2019 – Rambir Singh Khokhar (Life Time) – Haryana
2020 – Krishan Kumar Hooda (Life Time) – Haryana
2021 – Ashan Kumar (Life Time) – Haryana

Major Dhyan Chand Award: This award recognizes Kabaddi players who have made a significant and long-lasting contribution to the sport throughout their careers. Players like BC Suresh (Karnataka) and Vikas Kumar (Haryana) have been honoured with this award for their exceptional service to Kabaddi.

Winners of the Dhyan Chand Award:

2007 – Shamsher Singh – Haryana
2020 – Manpreet Singh – Punjab
2021 – Vikas Kumar – Haryana
2022 – BC Suresh – Karnataka

Padma Shri: This, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, is a rare honor reserved for a select few Kabaddi players who have truly changed the course of the sport. Legends like Sunil Dabas (Haryana) and Ajay Thakur (Himachal Pradesh) have been recognized with this prestigious award.

Winners of Padma Shri:

2014 – Sunil Dabas – Haryana
2019 – Ajay Thakur – Himachal Pradesh

The list of awardees reveals some interesting trends. Haryana seems to be a powerhouse of Kabaddi talent, with several players and coaches receiving awards. We also see women's Kabaddi getting recognized, as evidenced by awards given to players like Tejeswini Bai (Karnataka), Mamtha Poojari (Karnataka), and the recent awardee Ritu Negi (Himachal Pradesh).

So, the next time you witness a thrilling Kabaddi match, remember the stories behind the players and coaches. Their dedication and passion are what make Kabaddi such a captivating sport.