After framing criteria for selection of sportspersons for Arjuna awards, the Union Sports Ministry has approved a set of rules to select candidates for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand awards.
According to the new rules, for Khel Ratna and Dronacharya awards, medals won in Olympic Games (Summer, Winter and Paralympics), Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cup, World Championships (held once in four years) would get 90 per cent weightage.
For the Dhyan Chand award, such a medal would stand to gain 70 per cent weightage.
Marks given by the selection committees will get 10 per cent weightage for the Khel Ratna and Dronacharya awards, while it will be 30 per cent (including marks for assessment of contribution made for promotion of sports after retirement for active sports career and for qualities like sportsmanship, leadership and sense of discipline) for Dhyan Chand award.
The Ministry has stipulated that only one sportsperson will be chosen for Khel Ratna in a year. Five will be selected for Dronacharya and three for Dhyan Chand.
However, in case of Dronacharya, “marking criteria will not be applicable for two awards to be given for lifetime contribution in coaching.
The selection committee will give its recommendation for such coaches taking into consideration the contribution made by them over a period of 20 years or more in terms of producing sportspersons.”
For cricket and indigenous games, the selection committee will take into consideration the individual’s performances and contribution.
Sports journalists, experts and commentators have now been included in the selection committees.
