Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

Current Context: Indian badminton players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were jointly awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2024 for their outstanding performance in men’s doubles badminton.

Key Facts:

• Awarded for: Spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years.
• Established: 1991–92 as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award; renamed in 2021.
• Award Components: Medallion, certificate, and a cash prize.
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy:
  • Born on August 13, 2000, in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Set a Guinness World Record for the fastest badminton hit by a male player at 565 km/h in 2023 .
• Chirag Shetty:
  • Born on July 4, 1997, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • Partnered with Rankireddy to achieve world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles on October 10, 2023 .
• Achievements:
  • Won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
  • First Indian men’s doubles pair to achieve world No. 1 ranking.