Who was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023?

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is India’s highest sporting honor, given annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

It recognizes athletes for their outstanding performance at the international level over a sustained period.

Originally known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, it was renamed in 2021 to honor hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.

2023 Winners:

The award was conferred on Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India’s celebrated men’s badminton doubles team.

They became the first Indian men’s doubles pair to achieve such recognition.

Their achievements include winning prestigious international tournaments and bringing glory to India on the global stage.

Ceremony Details:

Although they were named for the award in December 2023, the official ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in January 2024 was missed due to tournament commitments.

They eventually received the award in a belated ceremony in New Delhi in 2025.

In summary: The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 went to Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, recognizing their historic success as India’s top badminton doubles pair.