Gujarat PSC – General Awareness & Current Affairs
Topic: Sports & Awards
1. Simple Explanation
Sports awards recognise outstanding performances, dedication and contribution to Indian sports. They are awarded at national and international levels, and have become a key part of the General Awareness syllabus for Gujarat PSC.
- National awards: Arjuna, Dronacharya, Major Dhyan Chand, Padma awards for sports, etc.
- International awards & honours: Olympic medals, Commonwealth Games medals, FIFA awards, etc.
- State‑level awards: Gujarat State Sports Awards, Gujarat State Games, etc.
These awards not only honour athletes but also inspire the next generation and promote sports culture in the state.
2. Key Points
| Category | Award | Year Established | Eligibility | Notable Recipients (last 5 years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National – Excellence | Arjuna Award | 1961 | Indian athletes with outstanding performance in the last 4 years | P.V. Sindhu (2020), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (2022) |
| Major Dhyan Chand Award | 2002 | Lifetime achievement in sport | Vasundhara Raje (2019) | |
| Padma Awards (Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan) | 1954 | Outstanding contributions to sport | Saina Nehwal (Padma Shri 2015), Mary Kom (Padma Bhushan 2014) | |
| Dronacharya Award | 1985 | Coaches with consistent success | Anil Kumar (2021), K.S. Ramesh (2020) | |
| International – Recognition | Olympic Medals | 1896 | Indian athletes who win gold, silver or bronze | Neeraj Chopra (Gold, 2021) |
| Commonwealth Games Medals | 1930 | Indian athletes who win any medal | Sakshi Malik (Gold, 2018) | |
| World Athletics/IAAF Awards | 1972 | World champions & record‑holders | Hima Das (World Junior Champion 2018) | |
| State – Gujarat Focus | Gujarat State Sports Awards | 2005 | Athletes/Coaches from Gujarat with national/international success | Suresh Reddy (2023) |
| Gujarat State Games | 1973 | Multi‑sport event for state athletes | 2024 edition – 100+ sports, 2000+ athletes |
Other Important Highlights
| Event | Date | Significance | Gujarat Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khelo India Games (KIG) | 2023–24 | National platform for grassroots talent | Gujarat hosted KIG 2024 (Delhi) |
| World Cup 2023 (Cricket) | 2023 | India won; Player of the Series: Rohit Sharma | Gujarat’s Sardar Patel Stadium hosted a group match |
| 2024 Summer Olympics (Tokyo, postponed) | 2024 | Neeraj Chopra again led Indian athletics | Gujarat athletes in training camps |
| Fair Play Award – All‑India Sports | 2024 | Awarded to Gujarat school teams for exemplary conduct | Gujarat’s “Green Force” school team (2024) |
3. Worked Example
Calculating the Medal Tally Rank for an Indian Athlete
Scenario
An Indian athlete, Ravi, has the following medal record at the last 3 major international events:
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Asian Games | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 World Championships | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 Olympic Games | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Goal – Determine Ravi’s overall rank among Indian athletes using the standard ranking system:
- Total number of medals
- Number of gold medals
- Number of silver medals
- Number of bronze medals
Step‑by‑Step Calculation
-
Total Medals
(1+1+1+1 = 4) medals. -
Gold Medals
(1) gold. -
Silver Medals
(1) silver. -
Bronze Medals
(2) bronze.
Ranking Rules
- If two athletes have the same total medals, the one with more golds ranks higher.
- If golds are equal, compare silvers, then bronzes.
Result
Ravi’s rank will be determined by comparing his 4‑medal tally, 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzes with other Indian athletes’ tallies. If no other athlete has 4 medals with more than 1 gold, Ravi will rank first in this category.
Illustrative Comparison
| Athlete | Total | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravi | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Arun | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Priya | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
- Ravi vs Arun: Same golds, Ravi has more silvers → Ravi ranks higher.
- Ravi vs Priya: Ravi has more golds → Ravi ranks higher.
Thus, Ravi would be ranked