Shooting Olympics medalist Manu Bhaker, the youngest World Chess Champion D. Gukesh, Paris Olympics 2024 hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and Paris Paralympics champion in the T64 category, Praveen Kumar, are set to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. This award is one of the most prestigious and honorary sports awards in India.
Manu Bhaker won two medals in shooting at the Paris Olympics. D. Gukesh became the youngest World Chess Master at the age of 18 and secured a gold medal in the Chess Olympiad held in November 2024 by defeating the reigning World Chess Master, Ding Liren.
Harmanpreet Singh was the Indian hockey team captain at the Paris Olympics in the men’s category; they won the bronze medal in the competition. Praveen Kumar won the gold medal in the high jump at the Paris Paralympics in the T64 men’s category, competing for athletes with one or both legs amputated below the knee who use prosthetic legs.
President Droupadi Murmu will award the Khel Ratna to the winners on January 17, 2025, at a special event to be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
