The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, presented the Sports and Adventure Awards 2024 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17 January 2025. Among the awards presented was the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2023, India's highest honour in the field of adventure sports, recognizing exceptional achievements in Land, Water, Air Adventure, and Lifetime Achievement.
The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (TNNAA) symbolizes the nation's recognition of individuals who display extraordinary courage, endurance, leadership, perseverance, and commitment in the field of adventure sports. Named after the legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, the award encourages youth participation in adventure activities while promoting physical fitness, resilience, environmental awareness, and national pride.One of the most inspiring recipients of the Land Adventure Award was Shri Uday Kumar of Bihar, who demonstrated remarkable determination after losing one leg in a train accident in 2015. Despite suffering 91% physical disability, he refused to let adversity define his life. Beginning with marathon running using a prosthetic limb, he later entered the field of adventure sports under the guidance of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling.As part of the "Kanchenjunga to Kilimanjaro (K2K)" Expedition, Uday Kumar successfully climbed Mount Rhenock (16,500 feet) in Khangchendzonga National Park, West Sikkim, where he unfurled a 780 sq. ft. Indian National Flag, setting a world record for the largest Indian flag displayed by an amputee on a mountain summit. The expedition was organized with the support of HMI, the Ministry of Defence, and led by Group Captain Jai Kishan, himself a former recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.The African phase of the expedition further highlighted his versatility. He successfully scaled Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341 feet) in Tanzania using crutches, completed skydiving after only four days of training, and undertook scuba diving in the Indian Ocean near the Zanzibar Archipelago. His achievements exemplify the true spirit of adventure and reinforce the message that physical disability cannot become a barrier to extraordinary accomplishment.The Water Adventure Award was conferred upon Ms. Sayani Das (West Bengal) for completing some of the world's most challenging open-water swims, including the English Channel, Rottnest Channel, Molokai Channel, and Catalina Channel.The Air Adventure Award was presented to Shri Jithin Malayilakathutt Vijayan (Kerala) for setting records in high-altitude skydiving, including the longest freefall in flat flying, carrying the Indian flag during freefall, and completing 18 consecutive days of skydiving.The Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred upon Shri Umesh Mallikarjun Zirpe (Maharashtra) for his decades-long contribution to Indian mountaineering. He has led expeditions to Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Annapurna, Manaslu, Lhotse, and Dhaulagiri, while mentoring numerous young mountaineers and promoting adventure sports across India.The awards collectively demonstrate the Government's commitment towards encouraging adventure sports, inclusive participation, leadership development, environmental stewardship, and nation-building through youth empowerment.
| Category | Awardee | State | Major Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land Adventure | Shri Uday Kumar | Bihar | Climbed Mount Rhenock (16,500 ft) and unfurled a 780 sq. ft. Indian Flag; later completed the K2K Expedition, scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, skydiving in Tanzania and scuba diving near Zanzibar despite being an amputee. |
| Water Adventure | Ms. Sayani Das | West Bengal | Successfully swam across the English, Rottnest, Molokai and Catalina Channels. |
| Air Adventure | Shri Jithin Malayilakathutt Vijayan | Kerala | Record holder for longest freefall in flat flying, Indian flag freefall and 18 consecutive days of skydiving. |
| Lifetime Achievement | Shri Umesh Mallikarjun Zirpe | Maharashtra | Veteran mountaineer who led expeditions to Everest, Kanchenjunga, Annapurna, Manaslu, Lhotse and Dhaulagiri. |
The President presented the following awards during the ceremony:
| Award | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 | Highest sporting honour for outstanding sportspersons. |
| Arjuna Awards 2024 | Recognition for consistent excellence in sports. |
| Dronacharya Awards 2024 | Recognition of outstanding coaches. |
| Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2023 | Highest national recognition in adventure sports. |
| Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2024 | Honours institutions promoting sports. |
| Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy 2024 | Awarded to the best-performing university in inter-university sports. |
Established:2000 (as an independent Ministry)Headquarters:Shastri Bhawan, New DelhiPresent Union Minister:Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
Instituted:2003Administered by:Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Established:1954Headquarters:Darjeeling, West Bengal
Updated – 17 January 2025; 02:15 PM | PIB | News Source –PIB Press Release, The Telegraph, The Economic Times