Manu Bhaker and D Gukesh among Khel Ratna awardees

The Sports Ministry announced that double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and world chess champion D Gukesh will be among four athletes receiving the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award on January 17. The announcement has sparked excitement and brought recognition to their exceptional contributions to Indian sports.

The Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honor, will also be conferred upon Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic high jumper Praveen Kumar. President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Manu Bhaker’s inclusion came after a controversy surrounding her initial omission from the list of nominees. Her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, had criticized the oversight, while the athlete maintained her focus on representing the nation. “As an athlete, my role is to play and perform for my country,” Manu clarified, emphasizing her commitment to excellence.

D Gukesh, who became the youngest world champion in classical chess after defeating China’s Ding Liren in December, has been recognized for his historic achievement.

Harmanpreet Singh, instrumental in securing India’s Olympic bronze in men’s hockey, and Praveen Kumar, who clinched gold in the High Jump T64 event at the Paris Paralympics, round out the illustrious list of Khel Ratna awardees.

The ceremony will also honor 32 athletes with the Arjuna Award and three coaches with the Dronacharya Award, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to Indian sports.