NEW DELHI: Ace shooter and multiple-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, world chess champion D Gukesh, Indian males’s hockey workforce captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar have been introduced because the recepients of the celebrated Main Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award — the nation’s highest sporting honour.
Bhaker made historical past as unbiased India’s first athlete to safe two medals in a single Olympic version. She clinched bronze within the 10m air pistol particular person occasion and the 10m air pistol combined workforce occasion in Paris Video games, held in August.
In the identical Video games, Harmanpreet Singh captained the Indian hockey workforce to its second consecutive bronze medal, persevering with the workforce’s legacy on the worldwide stage.
In the meantime, 18-year-old Gukesh D turned the youngest-ever World Chess Champion and performed a pivotal function in India’s historic gold medal triumph on the Chess Olympiad final 12 months.
The fourth honoree, para high-jumper Praveen Kumar, claimed the T64 title on the Paris Paralympics. The T64 classification is designated for athletes with below-knee amputations who use prosthetics for working.
Purposes for the awards have been invited on-line, permitting sportspersons, coaches, and entities to self-apply through a devoted on-line portal.
This 12 months, a major variety of purposes have been submitted and subsequently reviewed by a Choice Committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian of the Supreme Court docket of India. The committee comprised eminent sportspersons, skilled sports activities journalists, and seasoned sports activities directors.
Full listing of winners
“The awardees will obtain their awards from the President of India at a specifically organised perform at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January, 2025 (Friday) at 1100 hours,” the sports activities ministry mentioned in a press launch.
Extra to observe…
