Sports & Awards – Study Notes for Odisha Police Constable
All notes are written in plain language, short sentences and everyday analogies so you can quickly understand and remember.
1. Why Sports Matter for the Exam
| Why |
|---|
| General awareness – Sports are part of national pride. |
| Current affairs – New awards, records and events happen every year. |
| Police work – Knowing sports can help in community policing, events and building rapport. |
2. Major Sports in India (and the world)
| Sport | Everyday Analogy | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cricket | Team game like a school play where everyone has a role. | India won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. |
| Football (Soccer) | A game of goals, like a school dodge‑ball but with a ball. | India’s national team played in 2023 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. |
| Hockey | Fast field game, similar to a quick relay. | India won 8 Olympic golds in hockey. |
| Kabaddi | Tag‑like game with wrestling moves. | India’s national team won the 2022 Asian Games gold. |
| Wrestling | One‑on‑one fight, like a tug‑of‑war in the gym. | Sushil Kumar won India’s first wrestling Olympic medal in 2008. |
| Badminton | Quick racket sport, like ping‑pong but faster. | P.V. Sindhu is a world champion. |
| Athletics | Running, jumping, throwing – like a school track day. | Neeraj Chopra won gold in 2021 Olympics javelin. |
| Cycling | Riding a bike, like a long school run. | India’s cycling team competed in 2023 Asian Games. |
| Chess | Mind game, like solving a puzzle. | Viswanathan Anand is a world champion. |
3. National Sports Awards (India)
| Award | Who Gives It | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna | President of India | Highest sporting honour. | 2023 – PV Sindhu (Badminton). |
| Arjuna Award | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | For outstanding performance in 4‑year period. | 2015 – Saina Nehwal (Badminton). |
| Dronacharya Award | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | For coaches who produce top athletes. | 2019 – Dr. P. V. Narayan (Coaching). |
| Bharat Ratna (for sports) | President of India | Rare, for exceptional contribution. | 2022 – MS Dhoni (Cricket). |
| Padma Awards (Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan) | President of India | For distinguished service in sports. | 2018 – Hardik Pandya (Cricket). |
| Karnataka State Sports Award | (State Govt.) | For excellence in sports at state level. | 2021 – Odisha’s athlete – Kiran. |
How to Remember Them
- Khel Ratna = “Game Prize” (highest).
- Arjuna = “Hero of sports” (many winners).
- Dronacharya = “Coach of heroes.”
- Padma = “Cross‑award” for any field, including sports.
- Bharat Ratna = “National treasure” – very few get it.
4. International Sports Awards
| Award | Who Gives It | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Gold Medal | International Olympic Committee | Winners of Olympic events. | 2021 – Neeraj Chopra (Javelin). |
| FIFA World Cup | FIFA | Teams compete globally. | 2018 – France won. |
| ICC Cricket World Cup | International Cricket Council | Cricket teams compete. | 2011 – India won. |
| World Athletics Championships | International Association of Athletics Federations | Track & field world stage. | 2022 – India’s Neeraj Chopra gold. |
| NCAA (US) | US college sports | College athletes in the US. | 2023 – US college champion. |
5. State‑Level Awards – Odisha
| Award | Who Gives It | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Odisha Sports Award | Odisha Sports Council | Recognises athletes, coaches, and clubs. |