The Dronacharya Award, officially known as Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games, is sports coaching honour of the Republic of India. The award is named after Drona, often referred as "Dronacharya" or "Guru Drona", a character from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata of ancient India. He was master of advanced military warfare and was appointed as the royal preceptor to the Kaurava and the Pandava princes for their training in military arts and astras. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and are honoured to have done "outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and enabled sportspersons to excel in international events" over a period of four years. Two awards are designated for the lifetime contribution in coaching where the achievements in producing "outstanding sportspersons" over a period of 20 years or more are considered. As of 2020, the award comprises a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh (US$18,000).
Devendra Jhajharia is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower competing in F46 events. He is the first Indian Paralympics player to win two gold medals at the Paralympics. He won his first gold in the javelin throw at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, becoming the second gold medalist at the Paralympics for his country. At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, he won a second gold medal in the same event, bettering his previous record. Devendra is currently being supported by the Olympic Gold Quest. He becomes India's most decorated Paralympic player by winning his third medal, a silver at the 2020 Summer Paralympics at Tokyo. In 2024, he was elected president of the Paralympic Committee of India.
Rai Bahadur and Rao Bahadur, abbreviatedR.B., was a title of honour bestowed during British rule in India to individuals for outstanding service or acts of public welfare to the Empire. From 1911, the title was accompanied by a medal called a Title Badge. Translated, Rai or Rao means "King", and Bahadur means "Brave". Bestowed mainly on Hindus, the equivalent title for Muslim and Parsi subjects was Khan Bahadur. For Sikhs it was Sardar Bahadur.
Maha Singh Rao is a wrestler and wrestling coach from Chirawa, Rajasthan in India. In 2006, he was awarded the Dronacharya Award, the highest award of the land in the field of coaching of sports and athletics, He born in Yadav family of Ghadana Khurd Village in District Jhunjhunu of Rajsthan. by the government of India.
Surendrapal Singh is an Indian film and television character actor who works in Hindi films and TV series. He is best known for his roles of Dronacharya in Mahabharat, Amatya Rakshas in Chanakya, Tamraj Kilvish in Shaktiman and Daksha in Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev.
Satpal Singh, also known as Guru Satpal, is a wrestling coach and former wrestler of India. He was a gold medalist in 1982 Asian Games and a bronze medalist in 1974 Asian Games. Today he is better known as the coach of Olympic medal winners Sushil Kumar and Ravi Kumar Dahiya.
Sanjeeva Kumar Singh is an Indian archery coach from Jharkhand. He is Chief at Tata Football Academy and Sports, Tata Steel. He is the recipient of Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award by the Government of India.
Bundi State, founded by Hada Rao Devda, was a princely state in India. The former state was located in modern-day Rajasthan. It was ruled by Hada Chauhan Rajputs.
Ripudaman Singh, known as R.D. Singh, is an Indian athletics coach from Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. He is a recipient of Dronacharya Award, by the government of India. He is India's first Dronacharya awardee coach in the category of sports for specially abled.
Rajinder Singh Chauhan, also known as Rajinder Singh Jr., is an Indian field hockey player and coach. He was part of the Indian teams that won the silver medal at the 1982 Asian Games, the bronze medal at the 1982 Champions Trophy, and the silver medal at the 1983 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. He coached the Indian women's team in 2004 and the Indian men's team in 2005-2006.
Mahavir Singh Phogat is an Indian amateur wrestler, senior Olympics coach and politician. He is the trainer and father of the Phogat sisters. The Hindi biographical film Dangal is loosely based on his life.
Sandeep Singh Maan is an Indian Para athlete competing in Men's 100m, 200m, 400m and Long Jump events in the T46 category. He is bronze medallist in Asian Para Games 2018 held in Jakarta, Indonesia. And three time silver medallist from the Asian Para Games; he won them at the 2010 and 2014 editions in Guangzhou, China and Incheon, Korea, respectively. He received the Arjuna award in 2016 for his outstanding sporting achievements, the Maharana pratap Award in 2012 from state sports council of Rajasthan, and the Aravali Award in 2019. He is a national record holder in 200m and 400m since 2012. And now his goal is towards winning medal in coming Para Commonwealth games 2022.
Harendra Singh is an Indian field hockey coach and former player, who began one more stint as the head coach of the India women's national field hockey team from April 2024. He is a former head coach of India's men's, women's and junior teams.
Gurcharan Singh is an Indian cricket coach and former first-class cricketer. He coached 12 international and over 100 first-class cricketers, and is the second cricket coach to be awarded the Dronacharya Award. He was also awarded the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri by the Indian government.
Bishweshwar Nandi is an Indian gymnastics coach. He was also a prolific gymnast himself. He was trained by Dalip Singh. Nandi had been five times National Champion in gymnastics, represented the country in 12 instances and led the Indian gymnastics team six times as captain. He won Dronacharya Award in 2016 for his outstanding contribution to Indian gymnastics as a coach. Dipa Karmakar is one of the most successful students of Nandi. His wife, Soma Nandi, is also a gymnastics coach.
The National Sports Awards is the collective name given to the six sports awards of the Republic of India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. They are presented by the President of India in the same ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually on 29 August. Since 2004, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is also given alongside the other sports awards. As of 2020, a total of 1,259 individuals and organizations have been awarded the various National Sports Awards.
Bhupender Dhawan is an Indian weightlifter and coach. He has been coach in powerlifting and bodybuilding. Between 1994 and 2019, he coached the Indian powerlifting team and has also been the coach of the national bodybuilding squad. In 1997, he was awarded "the best coach & player" of the year 1996–97 by the then Chief Minister of Delhi Sahib Singh and in 2000, he was awarded the Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games, India's highest award in the field of coaching of sports and athletics, by the then president of India K. R. Narayanan. Dhawan was the first powerlifting coach to receive the Dronacharya Award. He was also awarded with the Hall of Fame by the World Powerlifting Union & British Power Lifting Federation in Birmingham, in 2017.
