To whom is the Dronacharya Award given?

Dronacharya Award is one of India's highest sporting honours, instituted by the Government of India (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports). It recognises excellence in a specific coaching role — the mentor who trains and prepares athletes for competition — not the athletes themselves or professionals in other fields.

Every year, the Government of India confers the Dronacharya Award on outstanding sports coaches who have produced medal-winning performances at the international level. The award is named after Dronacharya, the legendary guru of archery and warfare in the Mahabharata, symbolising the ideal coach-disciple relationship. So the recipient of the Dronacharya Award is a Coach.

• Player: Outstanding playing performance is recognised separately through the Arjuna Award and the Khel Ratna, distinct honours from the one named in this question.

• Teacher: Teaching excellence in the classroom is recognised separately through the National Award to Teachers, a distinct honour from the one named in this question.

• Scientist: Research excellence in science is recognised separately through awards such as the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, a distinct honour from the one named in this question.

Hence, the Dronacharya Award is given to a Coach.