India is a nation of aspiring athletes who have everything it takes to reach greater heights. What they lack, however, is meticulous funding, high-class training gear, necessary equipment and exposure. This is why JSW Foundation decided to launch a new Sports Excellence Program through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project in 2012. As a part of this programme, the organisation has been able to back Indian athletes, some of whom have won medals at the 2018 Asian Games.

Today, we are proud to say that all our efforts and hard work has been recognised by the country as JSW Sports has been presented with the most prestigious Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar. This has given us the determination to strive harder and make India one of the top 10 sporting nations by 2024.

This year, a large number of nominations were received for each category of awards. The winners were evaluated by the selection committees consisting of former Olympians, Arjuna awardees, Dronacharya awardees, Dhyan Chand Awardees and Sport journalists/ experts/ commentators and sports administrators. Selection committee for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards was headed by Justice (Ms.) Indermeet Kaur Kochhar (Former Judge of the Delhi High Court), while the selection committee for Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand Awards was headed by Justice Mr. Mukul Mudgal (Former Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court). The selection committee for Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar was headed by Shri Rahul Bhatnagar, Secretary (Sports), while the selection committee for the MAKA Trophy was headed by Shri Ashok Kumar, former Olympian.