Khel Ratna: Manu Bhaker, Gukesh D Shines Joins Stars
Manu Bhaker and D Gukesh are among the four athletes honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting accolade. The Sports Ministry confirmed their selection, alongside two others, as reported by PTI on Thursday. Bhaker, a two-time Olympic medalist, and Gukesh, a young chess prodigy, received the recognition following a week of controversy surrounding Bhaker’s initially overlooked nomination.
The shooter admitted there might have been an oversight on her part during the nomination process. She stated, I believe there may have been a lapse on my end while submitting the nomination, which is now being rectified. Regardless of the award, I remain determined to win more medals for my country. I request everyone to avoid making assumptions about this matter.
India’s men’s hockey captain, Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar are the other two recipients of this year’s Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the nation’s highest sporting honor.
In August, Bhaker made history at the Paris Olympics by becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition. She earned bronze in both the 10 m air pistol individual and mixed team events.
At the same Games, Harmanpreet Singh guided the Indian men’s hockey team to its second consecutive bronze medal, solidifying his status as a sports icon in India.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old chess prodigy D. Gukesh made history by becoming the youngest-ever World Champion. He played a pivotal role in India’s remarkable gold medal victory at the Chess Olympiad last year.
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The fourth awardee, Praveen Kumar, was recognized for his outstanding achievement at the Paris Paralympics, where he secured the T64 high jump title. The T64 classification is designated for athletes with below-knee amputations who use prosthetic limbs for running.
The recipients will be honored by the President of India during a special ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025, according to a press release issued by the Sports Ministry.
