New Delhi, January 2:
Renowned shooter Manu Bhaker and chess prodigy D Gukesh are among the four athletes set to be honoured with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, as announced by the Sports Ministry. The other recipients include Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.
Achievements of the Awardees
- Manu Bhaker: A double medalist at the Paris Olympics 2024, the 22-year-old created history by winning two Olympic medals in a single edition—bronze in the 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team event. She is also the first Indian woman shooter to secure an Olympic medal.
- D Gukesh: The Tamil Nadu chess sensation became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at 18, dethroning China’s Ding Liren in an intense 14-game final held in Singapore.
- Harmanpreet Singh: The captain of the Indian men’s hockey team led the squad to their second consecutive Olympic bronze medal, defeating Spain in a thrilling contest. The Paris Olympics also marked the farewell of veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
- Praveen Kumar: The para-athlete clinched gold in the men’s high jump event at the Paralympics, setting a record-breaking mark of 2.08 meters.
Arjuna Awards and Other Honours
In addition to the Khel Ratna awards, the Sports Ministry has named 32 athletes, including 17 para-athletes, for the Arjuna Awards. The President of India will present the awards during a special ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17.
Key Arjuna Awardees
- Athletics: Jyothi Yarraji, Annu Rani
- Boxing: Nitu, Saweety
- Chess: Vantika Agrawal
- Hockey: Salima Tete, Abhishek, Sanjay, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh
- Para-Athletics: Preeti Pal, Ajeet Singh, Navdeep
- Shooting: Swapnil Suresh Kusale, Sarabjot Singh
- Others: Sajan Prakash (Swimming), Aman (Wrestling)
Special Mentions
- Lifetime Achievement Arjuna Awards: Sucha Singh (Athletics), Murlikant Rajaram Petkar (Para-Swimming)
- Dronacharya Awards: Recognising coaches in both regular and lifetime categories, notable awardees include Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting), Deepali Deshpande (Shooting), and Armando Colaco (Football).
Upcoming Ceremony
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where athletes and coaches will be celebrated for their outstanding contributions to Indian sports.
This year’s honorees reflect the nation’s growing prominence in a variety of sports, showcasing remarkable talent and inspiring future generations.
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