For exceptional sportsmanship, four athletes received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honor.
This year the recipients are: shooter Manu Bhakar, chess master D.K. Gukesh, hockey expert Harmanpreet Singh, and associate athlete Praveen Kumar.
On January 2, 2025, the sports ministry officially announced that these veterans will receive their appreciation in a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025, at 11:00 am presided over by the President of India face.
Manu Bhaker: Forerunner in Shooting Excellence
At the early age of 22, shooting sensation Manu Bhaker is now the first athlete from free India to win two medals in one Olympics. What proved to be a stupendous demonstration of unerring accuracy and perseverance for Bhaker would get him both bronze in the individual 10m air pistol as well as in the mixed team 10m air pistol event at the Olympics held this past August.
But her achievements that go unmatched elevate her stature and point out her dedication to her craft-inspiring multiple promising shooters across the nation.
Gukesh: A Chess Prodigy Changing the Chess Standard
At 18 years of age, D. Gukesh has already marked himself as one of the chess greats. Last year, he won the extraordinary feat as the youngest World Chess Champion, breaking records and causing awe.
Apart from his glory, Gukesh had been pivotal in leading the Indian team to a record-breaking gold medal win in the Chess Olympiad. Boasting technical skills and maturity that belies his age, he is the future hope for Indian chess.
Harmanpreet Singh: The Pillar of Indian Hockey
As captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, Harmanpreet Singh is a consistent leader with inherent skills and an unyielding commitment to bring about excellence. His team helped the team win its second consecutive Olympic bronze medal under his leadership, proving this commitment comes with sheer tenacity.
More than a player, Harmanpreet Singh is the resurgence of hockey in India in terms of international games, rekindling the spark among the countrymen for this game.
Praveen Kumar: A Champion Against All Odds
Defying physical challenges with unyielding determination, para high-jumper Praveen Kumar emerged as the T64 champion at the Paris Paralympics. The T64 classification is designated for athletes with lower-limb amputations who rely on prosthetics for competition.
Praveen’s leap for the gold medal demonstrates more than a flash of athletics but is symbolic of the conquest of the human spirit over circumstances. His tale strikes as one of a power of persistence and resilience.
A Defining Moment
The event at the Presidential Palace promises to be a celebration of indomitable spirit and exceptional talent. As the President of India honors these remarkable athletes, their stories will be a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.
These Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardees this year are just the personifications of devotion, sacrifice, and excellence proving that great things lie not in destination but in commitment to the journey.
