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.