World Chess Champion D Gukesh, Olympic Star Manu Bhaker Among Four Sportspersons Set To Receive Khel Ratna Award On 17 January

The Sports Ministry announced on Thursday (2 January) that world chess champion D Gukesh and double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker are among four athletes set to receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award on 17 January.

Initially absent from the list of nominees, Manu Bhaker has now been selected to receive the Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour.

Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men's hockey team, and Paralympian Praveen Kumar will also be honoured with the Khel Ratna Award.

The awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on 17 January.

The Sports Ministry said that the awards are being given based on the "recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny".

Manu Bhaker made history by clinching bronze medals in the 10m air pistol and 10m pistol mixed team events at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first Indian athlete since Independence to win multiple medals in a single Games edition.

D Gukesh created history by becoming the youngest world champion in classical chess after defeating China's Ding Liren in December.

Harmanpreet Singh guided the Indian men's hockey team to its second consecutive Olympic bronze medal earlier this year.

Praveen Kumar secured a gold medal in the High Jump T 64 category at the Paris Olympics.

List of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardees 2024

The 2024 Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardees include:

• Shri Gukesh D (Chess)

• Shri Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)

• Shri Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics)

• Ms. Manu Bhaker (Shooting)

Here’s the complete list of awardees, as announced by the Sports Ministry.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

• Gukesh D (Chess)

• Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)

• Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics)

• Manu Bhaker (Shooting)

Arjuna Award Recipients:

• Jyothi Yarraji (Athletics)

• Annu Rani (Athletics)

• Nitu (Boxing)

• Saweety (Boxing)

• Vantika Agrawal (Chess)

• Salima Tete (Hockey)

• Abhishek (Hockey)

• Sanjay (Hockey)

• Jarmanpreet Singh (Hockey)

• Sukhjeet Singh (Hockey)

• Rakesh Kumar (Para-Archery)

• Preeti Pal (Para-Athletics)

• Jeevanji Deepthi (Para-Athletics)

• Ajeet Singh (Para-Athletics)

• Sachin Sarjerao Khilari (Para-Athletics)

• Dharambir (Para-Athletics)

• Pranav Soorma (Para-Athletics)

• H Hokato Sema (Para-Athletics)

• Simran (Para-Athletics)

• Navdeep (Para-Athletics)

• Nitesh Kumar (Para-Badminton)

• Thulasimathi Murugesan (Para-Badminton)

• Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (Para-Badminton)

• Manisha Ramadass (Para-Badminton)

• Kapil Parmar (Para-Judo)

• Mona Agarwal (Para-Shooting)

• Rubina Francis (Para-Shooting)

• Swapnil Suresh Kusale (Shooting)

• Sarabjot Singh (Shooting)

• Abhay Singh (Squash)

• Sajan Prakash (Swimming)

• Aman (Wrestling)

Arjuna Awards (Lifetime Category)

• Sucha Singh (Athletics)

• Murlikant Rajaram Petkar (Para-Swimming)

Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches

Dronacharya Award (Regular Category):

• Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting)

• Deepali Deshpande (Shooting)

• Sandeep Sangwan (Hockey)

Dronacharya Award (Lifetime Category):

• S Muralidharan (Badminton)

• Armando Agnelo Colaco (Football)

Also Read: Karnataka BJP Leaders, Including C T Ravi, Booked By State Police For Public Nuisance After Protest Against Minister Priyank Kharge