Manu Bhaker, D Gukesh Amongst 4 Athletes To Get Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: Sports Ministry

Double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker and chess world champion D Gukesh are amongst 4 athletes finalised for Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award by the Sports Ministry on Thursday. Men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic gold medal winner Praveen Kumar can even get the celebrated award. The Khel Ratna is the very best sporting honour for sportspersons in India. The sports activities ministry additionally named 32 athletes, together with 17 para-athletes, for Arjuna awards. 

Recently, there was an enormous furore after some new stories claimed that Manu’s title was lacking from the record of athletes really helpful for Khel Ratna. Manu’s father Ram Kishan and coach Jaspal Rana have been livid over the snub. However, Manu Bhaker admitted that there may need been a lapse in her half whereas submitting for the nomination. 

“With regards to ongoing issue for my nomination for the most prestigious Khel Ratna award-I would like to state that as an athlete my role is to play and perform for my country. Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my goal. I believe there has been a lapse, maybe on my part while filing for the nomination which is being corrected. Irrespective of the award I shall remain motivated to win more medals for my country. It is a request to everyone, please do not speculate on this matter,” Manu Bhaker wrote in a publish on X. 

The 22-year-old Bhaker turned unbiased India’s first athlete to win two medals in a single version of the Olympics along with her bronze-winning present within the 10m air pistol particular person and 10m air pistol combined group occasions in August.

In the identical Games, Harmanpreet led the Indian hockey group to its second consecutive bronze medal.

The 18-year-old Gukesh, however, turned the youngest ever World champion whereas additionally serving to the Indian group win a historic gold within the Chess Olympiad final 12 months.

The fourth recipient might be para high-jumper Praveen, who was topped the T64 champion within the Paris Paralympics. The T64 classification is for athletes who’ve one or each legs lacking beneath the knee and depend on a prosthetic leg for operating.

“The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January, 2025 (Friday) at 1100 hours,” the sports activities ministry stated in a press launch. 

With PTI inputs