Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and world chess champion D Gukesh are among the four athletes who will be honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award on January 17, the Sports Ministry announced on Thursday, January 2. Manu’s name had initially been missing from the list of nominees for the Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honour in the country.”
Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympian Praveen Kumar will also receive the Khel Ratna Award from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on January 17.
“Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has decided to confer awards upon the following sportspersons, coaches, universities, and entities,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Sports Ministry announced the list of athletes who will be given the Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dhronacharya awards on January 17. While four will be conferred with the Khel Ratna award, 32 athletes will receive the Arjuna Award, and Dhronacharya Award for three coaches.
A controversy had erupted over Manu Bhaker’s omission from the list of nominees for the prestigious Khel Ratna Award. The shooter’s father and coach, Jaspal Rana, expressed their disappointment over the oversight, criticising the sporting authorities for not nominating her after her achievements in the Olympic year. Manu’s father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, even remarked that he should have made his daughter a cricketer instead of a shooter.
However, Manu Bhaker addressed the controversy in a statement, clarifying that she was not concerned with awards and remained focused on winning more laurels for the country. She acknowledged a potential oversight in the nomination process.
“Regarding the ongoing issue with my nomination for the prestigious Khel Ratna award, I would like to state that, as an athlete, my role is to play and perform for my country. I believe there has been a lapse, possibly on my part, while filing for the nomination, which is being corrected,” Manu said in a post on Instagram.
MORE ABOUT THE KHEL RATNA AWARD WINNERS
Manu Bhaker won bronze medals in 10m air pistol and 10m pistol mixed team event at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first athlete to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Games since Independence.
D Gukesh, meanwhile, became the youngest world champion in classical chess after beating Ding Liren of China in December.
Harmanpreet Singh led India to their second successive Olympic bronze in men’s hockey earlier this year.
Praveen Kumar won gold in the High Jump T 64 event at the Paris Olympics.
FULL LIST OF AWARDS WINNERS – NATIONAL SPORTS DAY 2024
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
Shri Gukesh D – Chess
Shri Harmanpreet Singh – Hockey
Shri Praveen Kumar – Para-Athletics
Ms. Manu Bhakar – Shooting