- globetrotter
- 02 Jan 2025
- #Sports & Games
Manu Bhaker, India's twin-Olympic medallist, and D Gukesh, chess prodigy, are among the four recipients of the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The other two recipients are India's men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.
This announcement comes after a week of controversy surrounding Bhaker's nomination, which was initially overlooked. Bhaker acknowledged a possible lapse on her part while submitting the nomination, but the issue has been resolved .
The four recipients will receive their awards from the President of India on January 17, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This year's awards recognize outstanding achievements in sports, including
- Manu Bhaker: Became India's first athlete to win two medals in a single Olympics edition, securing bronze in 10m air pistol individual and mixed team events.
- D Gukesh: Became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion and contributed to India's historic gold medal win at the Chess Olympiad.
- Harmanpreet Singh: Led the Indian men's hockey team to its second consecutive bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
- Praveen Kumar: Won the T64 high-jump title at the Paris Paralympics, a remarkable achievement for an athlete with a prosthetic leg.
The Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is India's highest sporting honor, and these four athletes have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and perseverance in their respective fields.
