NEW DELHI: Ace shooter and multiple-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, world chess champion D Gukesh, Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar have been announced as the recepients of the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award — the country’s highest sporting honour.
Bhaker made history as independent India’s first athlete to secure two medals in a single Olympic edition. She clinched bronze in the 10m air pistol individual event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event in Paris Games, held in August.
In the same Games, Harmanpreet Singh captained the Indian hockey team to its second consecutive bronze medal, continuing the team’s legacy on the global stage.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Gukesh D became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion and played a pivotal role in India’s historic gold medal triumph at the Chess Olympiad last year.
The fourth honoree, para high-jumper Praveen Kumar, claimed the T64 title at the Paris Paralympics. The T64 classification is designated for athletes with below-knee amputations who use prosthetics for running.
Applications for the awards were invited online, allowing sportspersons, coaches, and entities to self-apply via a dedicated online portal.
This year, a significant number of applications were submitted and subsequently reviewed by a Selection Committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian of the Supreme Court of India. The committee comprised eminent sportspersons, experienced sports journalists, and seasoned sports administrators.
Complete list of winners
“The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January, 2025 (Friday) at 1100 hours,” the sports ministry said in a press release.
More to follow…
