After introduction of Arjuna Award by Govt. of India, Maharashtr'a Sports Department started honoring Maharashtra's top Sportsman and Sportswomen who had made Maharashtra and India proud with their performances at the National and International Level by giving them "Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Award" from the year 1969-70. Its the highest Sport Award given by the Government of Maharashtra.
Winners for the year 2009:
Lifetime Achievement award: Maruti Mane (Wrestling), Madhav Patil (Kho-Kho)
Best coach award: Sujit Shedge (Satara, Mallkhamb), Vispi Kapadia (Mumbai, Karate), Manoj Erande (Pune, swimming).
Best organisers: Keshav Jadhav (Aurangabad), Vasant Akulvar (Nagpur), S M Patel (Nanded), Abhay Chajed (Pune), Ratan Ligade (Dhule), Sarjerav Shinde (Thane), Sitaram Tayde (Buldhana), Saheb Pawar (Satara).
Eklavya award (for physically challenged): Swati Disle (Solapur).
Special award: Balasaheb Ghadge (Mumbai), Ritu Kedia (Amravati).
Shiv Chhatrapati awards for sports persons: Lekha Kamat (Thane, swimming), Rupali Shinde (Pune, diving), Harshali Rathe (Amravati, waterpolo), Manisha Gargote (Pune, handball), Kavita Raut (Nagpur, athletics), Ketaki Bakore (Nagar), Ketaki Kadam (Pune, wushu), Madhavi Bhosale (Satara, kho-kho), Prakash Rahate (Mumbai, kho-kho), Gauri Wadekar (Mumbai, kabaddi), Sheetal Marne (Pune, kabaddi), Ashish Mhatre (Raigad, kabaddi), Amruta Karkhanis (Thane, cycling), Esha Lakhani (Mumbai, tennis), Rakesh Kalaskar (Pune, boxing), Narsingh Yadav (Mumbai, wrerstling), Namrata Jadhav (Mumbai, gymnastics), Yogesh Pawar (Mumbai, gymnastics), Romel Pandit (Mumbai, shooting), Sonal More (Thane, badminton), Prashant Bahattare (Mumbai, badminton), Tanuja Patel (Nashik, fencing), Hetal Dave (Mumbai, Judo), Suhas Khamkar (Kolhapur, bodybuilding), Palvinder Saini (Mumbai, powerlifting), Apurva Surve (Mumbai, mallakhamb), Kalpesh Jadhav (Mumbai, mallakhamb), Preetish Nandurkar (Yavatmal, Atyapatya), Ninad Mayekar (Thane, yachting).
