Manu Bhaker and Gukesh among Khel Ratna recipients at National Sports Awards

In a grand ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, shooter Manu Bhaker and teenage chess prodigy D Gukesh were awarded the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.

The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the National Sports Awards on Friday.

Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, made history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic edition. Her outstanding performances in the 10m air pistol events last year earned her this top honor.

Eighteen-year-old Gukesh achieved another historic milestone by becoming the youngest world chess champion, defeating China’s Ding Liren recently. He is only the second Indian to claim the title after the legendary Viswanathan Anand.

The Khel Ratna was also conferred upon Indian men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, who played a vital role in securing bronze at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and Paralympic gold medalist Praveen Kumar, who triumphed in high jump despite being born with a physical disability.

This year’s National Sports Awards also celebrated 32 athletes with the Arjuna Award, 17 of whom were para-athletes—a record-breaking recognition for India’s Paralympians. These para-athletes shone brightly at the Paris Paralympics, where India bagged 29 medals, including seven gold.

The awards were determined based on a points system, with the highest weightage given to performances at the Olympics and World Championships.

These athletes’ achievements continue to inspire the nation and set new benchmarks for sporting excellence.