khel Ratna 2024 Award: In a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award upon four distinguished athletes: shooter Manu Bhaker, chess prodigy D Gukesh, hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.
Manu Bhaker: Pioneering Shooter
Manu Bhaker, at 22, made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming India’s first athlete to secure two medals in a single edition of the Games. She clinched bronze in both the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team events. Her remarkable achievements have significantly elevated India’s presence in international shooting sports.
D Gukesh: Youngest World Chess Champion
khel Ratna 2024 Award: Eighteen-year-old D Gukesh emerged as the youngest-ever World Chess Champion after defeating China’s Ding Liren in December 2024. This victory not only crowned him as the world champion but also made him the second Indian to achieve this feat, following the legendary Viswanathan Anand. Gukesh’s rapid ascent in the chess world has been a source of inspiration for many aspiring players.
Harmanpreet Singh: Hockey Maestro
Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, led the squad to a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, replicating their success from the Tokyo 2020 Games. Under his leadership, the team has demonstrated consistent performance on the international stage, reinforcing India’s storied legacy in hockey.
Praveen Kumar: Para-Athletics Champion
khel Ratna 2024 Award: Para-athlete Praveen Kumar secured a gold medal in the men’s high jump T64 category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, improving upon his silver from the Tokyo Games. Born with a short left leg, Praveen’s dedication and resilience have made him a standout figure in para-athletics, exemplifying the spirit of overcoming adversity.
National Sports Awards 2024
The National Sports Awards are presented annually to honor and reward excellence in sports. The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the highest sporting honor in India, bestowed for the most outstanding performance in the field of sports over the previous four years.
■ Also Read: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Announces National Sports Awards 2024
In addition to the Khel Ratna, thirty-two athletes were honored with the Arjuna Award, recognizing consistent outstanding performance. Notably, seventeen para-athletes were among the recipients, reflecting India’s growing strength in para-sports. Prominent names included wrestler Aman Sehrawat, shooters Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh, and men’s hockey team players Jarmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay, and Abhishek.
Coaching and Institutional Honors
khel Ratna 2024 Award: The Dronacharya Award, given to coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international events, was presented to Subhash Rana (para-shooting), Deepali Deshpande (shooting), and Sandeep Sangwan (hockey). In the lifetime category, the award honored S Muralidharan (badminton) and Armando Agnelo Colaco (football) for their enduring contributions to sports coaching.
The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, recognizing the contribution to sports development, was conferred upon the Physical Education Foundation of India. Additionally, Chandigarh University, Lovely Professional University, and Guru Nanak Dev University received the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy for being the top-performing universities in the Khelo India University Games.
A Celebratory Evening
The awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was a momentous occasion, celebrating the dedication, hard work, and achievements of India’s sports icons. President Droupadi Murmu‘s acknowledgment of these athletes and coaches underscores the nation’s commitment to fostering sporting excellence and supporting athletes across diverse disciplines.
khel Ratna 2024 Award: As India continues to make significant strides on the global sports stage, the recognition of these athletes serves as an inspiration for future generations to pursue excellence and bring glory to the nation.
