18-year-old D Gukesh, who made history as the youngest ever world chess champion, has his sights set on seeing chess become an Olympic sport. At a recent felicitation ceremony in New Delhi, Gukesh expressed his desire for chess to be included in the Olympics, especially if it's in India. The President of India honored him with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, making him just the second chess player after Viswanathan Anand to receive the prestigious award. Despite achieving great success at a young age, Gukesh remains determined to continue working hard and bringing more accolades to his country.
Four elite Indian athletes were recognized for their outstanding performances and achievements in the field of sports by President Droupadi Murmu. The prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award was presented to D. Gukesh, Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Singh, and Praveen Kumar, acknowledging their significant contributions to India’s success in various international events. Along with these four honorees, 32 athletes were also awarded with the Arjuna Award during the ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025.
President Droupadi Murmu honoured some of the country's top athletes with the prestigious sports award - Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award at a special ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This award is given every year to recognise and reward excellence in sports and is given to sportspersons for their outstanding performance in their respective fields over a period of four years. This year's recipients include the youngest-ever World Chess Champion Gukesh D, Paris Olympics and Paralympics medallists Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Singh, and Praveen Kumar. Additionally, 17 para-athletes were also honoured with the Arjuna Award, which is given for outstanding performance in sports and games with qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline.
The Indian sports community is in celebration as shooter Manu Bhaker, chess world champion D Gukesh, men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar have been selected as recipients of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Bhaker's historic double-medal win at the Olympics, along with Harmanpreet's leadership in securing a second consecutive bronze for the Indian hockey team, were highlights of their achievements. Gukesh's victory as the youngest ever chess world champion and helping India win the gold in Chess Olympiad, and Praveen's T64 championship win in Paralympics, have also earned them the prestigious award. The award ceremony will take place on January 17, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the awardees will receive this recognition from the President of India.
Indian athletes Manu Bhaker and D Gukesh have been selected to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, the highest sporting honor in the country. This announcement comes alongside the nomination of Indian men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar for the same award. The recipients will receive their awards in a special ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2025. Bhaker and Gukesh have made their mark in their respective sports, with Bhaker making history as the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympics, and Gukesh becoming the youngest ever World Chess champion.
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker has been in the spotlight for her omission from the list of nominees for the Khel Ratna award. Amid the ongoing controversy, she took to social media to clarify her stance, stating that as an athlete, her priority is to play and perform for her country. She also emphasized that awards are not her ultimate goal, and despite the disappointment, she remains motivated to win more medals for India. The criticism from her coach and father highlights the frustration and disappointment with the sports ministry and selection committee, who overlooked her record-breaking achievements at the Olympics.
The controversy surrounding champion shooter Manu Bhaker's exclusion from the list of nominated athletes for the Khel Ratna award continues as her coach Jaspal Rana criticizes the Sports Ministry, SAI, and NRAI for 'ignoring' her credentials. This comes after Manu herself addressed the issue, stating there might have been a lapse on her part while applying for the award. However, her coach believes that her name should have automatically been considered due to her historic achievements at the Tokyo Olympics where she became the first Indian to win two medals.