Double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker and chess prodigy D Gukesh were among the four athletes awarded the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for 2024, announced by the Sports Ministry. The announcement also highlighted a remarkable inclusion of 17 para-athletes in the list of 32 Arjuna awardees, celebrating their outstanding achievements at the Paris Paralympics.
Joining Bhaker and Gukesh as Khel Ratna recipients were men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar, both of whom have made significant contributions to Indian sports in the past year. The awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025.
22 year old Manu Bhaker made history at the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single edition of the Games. She secured bronze medals in both the 10m air pistol individual event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event, further cementing her status as one of India’s finest shooting talents.
Interestingly, Bhaker’s name for the Khel Ratna was the subject of recent controversy, as initial reports suggested she was overlooked due to a missed application deadline. Bhaker acknowledged a possible lapse on her part but, after procedural issues were resolved, was rightfully included among the honorees.
18-year-old chess sensation D Gukesh, another Khel Ratna recipient, became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, achieving the title last year. His remarkable feat also contributed to India’s historic gold medal victory in the Chess Olympiad.
Harmanpreet Singh led the Indian men’s hockey team to its second consecutive bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, solidifying his place as a hockey legend and a worthy Khel Ratna awardee. The final Khel Ratna recipient, para-athlete Praveen Kumar, claimed gold in the T64 category of high jump at the Paris Paralympics, a classification for athletes with lower-limb impairments who use prosthetics for running.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, along with a citation and a medallion, while the Arjuna awardees receive Rs 15 lakh, a statuette of Arjuna, and a citation.
