Sports & Awards – Study Notes
Subject: General Awareness & Current Affairs
Exam: Jharkhand Police Constable
1. Simple Explanation
| Term | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | Physical activities governed by rules and organized competitions. | Promotes health, teamwork, national pride. |
| Awards | Honors given to athletes for outstanding performance. | Recognise excellence, motivate future talent. |
2. Key Points
| Category | Important Awards (India) | Notable Recipients | Event / Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Awards (for Sports) | • Padma Shri – 4th highest civilian award (often for sports). • Padma Bhushan – 3rd highest (rare for athletes). • Padma Vibhushan – 2nd highest (rare). |
Arjuna – MS Dhoni, Mary Kom, PV Sindhu. Dronacharya – K. S. Chithra, PV Sindhu (as coach). |
Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Sports‑Specific Awards | • Arjuna Award – for consistent performance. • Dronacharya Award – for coaching excellence. • Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (now Khel Ratna) – highest sporting honour. • Bharat Ratna – rare for sports, only served to Sushil Kumar (2022). |
• 2023: K. J. Jagan (weightlifting). • 2023: Rani Rampal (shooting). |
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports |
| International Sports Events | • Olympics – every 4 yrs. • World Cup (football, cricket, hockey). • Asian Games – every 4 yrs. • Commonwealth Games – every 4 yrs. • Sudirman Cup (badminton). |
International Olympic Committee (IOC), Asian Games Federation | |
| Major Indian Achievements | • 2021: PV Sindhu – Olympic bronze (women’s 200m). • 2023: Neeraj Chopra – World Athletics Champion (javelin). • 2024: Neeraj – Olympic gold (Tokyo 2020). |
IAAF, IOC | |
| Sporting Bodies & Governing Bodies | • BCCI – Cricket. • FIFA – Football. • AIFF – Football (India). • BWF – Badminton. • AIU – Athletics. |
National & International | |
| State‑Level Awards | • Jharkhand Sports Award – for outstanding athletes from Jharkhand. • Jharkhand State Sports Council – organizes state games. |
State Government |
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Padma Awards | 2023 Padma awards list – 6 athletes (e.g., C. P. V. Kumar – weightlifting). |
| Arjuna Award 2023 | 101 recipients (females 30). |
| Khel Ratna 2023 | 5 recipients: Neeraj Chopra, Rani Rampal, Sakshi Malik, Vikas Gowda, Shiny Wilson. |
| Olympic Medals 2021 (Tokyo) | India won 7 medals (5 silver, 2 bronze). |
3. Worked Example
Question (Poornam).
Which Indian athlete won the gold medal in the men's 400 m hurdles at the 2020 Summer Olympics?
Step‑by‑Step Solution
- Identify the sport & event – 400 m hurdles (track & field).
- Recall Indian Olympic history – India has never won a gold in hurdles.
- Check 2020 Olympic results – The gold medalist was Karsten Warholm (Norway).
- Conclusion – No Indian athlete won gold in this event.
- Answer – “None; the gold medal was won by Karsten Warholm of Norway.”
Takeaway
- Always verify the event and year; India’s gold medals are mainly in boxing, wrestling, shooting, badminton, and athletics (e.g., Neeraj Chopra – javelin).
- For “who won gold?” questions, cross‑check with official IOC data or the “Olympic medal table” for India.
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Topic | Key Highlights |
|---|---|
| National & Sports Awards | Padma Shri → Arjuna → Dronacharya → Khel Ratna (highest). |
| Major International Events | Olympics, World Cup, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games. |
| Recent Indian Successes | PV Sindhu (2020 bronze), Neeraj Chopra (2023 World champion, 2020 Olympic gold). |
| Governing Bodies | BCCI, AIFF, BWF, AIU, etc. |
| State Level | Jharkhand Sports Award; State Games run by Jharkhand State Sports Council. |
| Remember | Dates of major events (Olympics 2024, Asian Games 2026), and list of 2023 Khel Ratna winners. |
Tip for Exam:
- Focus on names, years, and award categories.
- Keep a one‑page cheat sheet of “Top 5 Indian Olympic Medallists 2020–2024” for quick recall.