The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced on Thursday that Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award -- the country's highest sporting honour -- will be conferred on Olympic double medalist Manu Bhaker, Chess World Champion Gukesh D, Hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic Gold medallist Praveen Kumar.
The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025 (Friday) at 1100 hours, the Sports ministry said in an official statement.
The 22-year-old Bhaker became independent India's first athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics with her bronze-winning show in the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team events in August.
In the same Games, Hamranpreet led the Indian hockey team to its second consecutive bronze medal.
The 18-year-old Gukesh, on the other hand, became the youngest ever World champion while also helping the Indian team win a historic gold in the Chess Olympiad last year.
The fourth recipient will be para high-jumper Praveen, who was crowned the T64 champion in the Paris Paralympics.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the period of the previous four years.
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