The Sports Ministry has announced the names of four athletes who will receive the prestigious Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honor. Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker, chess world champion D Gukesh, men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and Paralympic gold medalist Praveen Kumar are the honorees for the award.
The announcement follows a recent controversy surrounding Bhaker’s nomination. Reports claimed her name was initially missing from the recommendation list, sparking outrage from her father, Ram Kishan, and coach Jaspal Rana. However, Bhaker addressed the issue on X (formerly Twitter), admitting a potential lapse in her nomination process.
“As an athlete, my goal is to perform for my country. Awards are motivating but not my ultimate aim. I believe there may have been a lapse on my part while filing the nomination, which is being corrected. I remain focused on winning more medals for India,” the 22-year-old Bhaker wrote.
Bhaker made history as the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic edition, securing bronze in the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team events.The other awardees have equally remarkable achievements. Gukesh, 18, became the youngest-ever chess world champion and led India to a historic gold in the Chess Olympiad last year.
Harmanpreet Singh captained the Indian hockey team to a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, marking a consecutive podium finish. Paralympian Praveen Kumar clinched gold in the T64 high-jump event at the Paris Paralympics, setting a new benchmark in the classification for athletes with below-knee prosthetics.
The Sports Ministry also named 32 athletes, including 17 para-athletes, for the Arjuna Awards, recognizing their outstanding contributions to Indian sports.
The Khel Ratna awardees will receive their honors from the President of India at a special ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025. The event is scheduled to commence at 11:00 AM. This year’s awards reaffirm the nation’s commitment to recognizing excellence across diverse sports, inspiring athletes to continue their pursuit of glory.
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