19/08/2026
A Vacant Khel Ratna Should Make Us Pause.
There is no winner for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award this cycle—India’s highest sporting honour has been left vacant.
This should make us think beyond the award itself.
Why are we still struggling to consistently create sportspersons who reach the very highest level?
Do we identify talent early enough?
Do our athletes get the right coaching, sports science, strength & conditioning, nutrition, psychology and international exposure?
Do we support them financially throughout their development—not only after they start winning medals?
As someone working with young fencers, I see enormous talent and ambition in our children. But talent alone does not create champions.
A champion is built over years—with the right coaching, competition, infrastructure, support system and opportunities.
A vacant Khel Ratna should not just be a headline.
It should be a wake-up call for Indian sport.
Let us stop asking only, “Who will win the next medal?”
Let us ask: “What are we doing today to create the athlete who will win it?”
India has talent.
India has ambition.
Now we need to build the system that turns that talent into world-class champions.
The next Khel Ratna should be the result of the champions we start building today.
