Manu Bhaker, D Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh, and Praveen Kumar have been selected to be awarded the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2025. Manu Bhaker created history by winning multiple gold medals in the Paris Olympics 2024. On the other hand, D Gukesh recently went on to become the World Number 1 in chess after beating Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship finals.
The other athletes who have been conferred to receive the major award are Harmanpreet Singh and Praveen Kumar. Harmanpreet Singh is the captain of the Indian Hockey Men’s team that went on to lift the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. He also helped his side lift the Asian Champions Trophy. On the other hand, Praveen Kumar won the gold in the Paralympics.
Hoisting India’s Flag high in Paris
India has been subpar in the Paris Olympics, given the hype that was created prior to the start of the tournament. If there was any athlete who outshined and outclassed himself/herself, it was Manu Bhaker. While she was unable to clinch the gold in either event, she took India to the podium twice.
Well, the controversy too has been cleared. A week ago, it was reported that Manu Bhaker’s name for the Award had been overlooked. But now, it can be well understood that the Sports Ministry has made the correct decision. Coming back to the Paris Olympics, the 22-year-old became the first female shooter from India to win any Olympic medal.
She won the bronze first 10m Air Pistol Women’s event and then went on to replicate it in the mixed 10 m Air Pistol event with Sarabjot Singh. She became India’s first women athlete post Independence to win 2 medals at the same Olympics. And her incredible achievements rightly make her eligible for the Khel Ratna Award.
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Best in the World!
D Gukesh once again showed his brilliance in becoming the best in the world. He went on to beat Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship in a grueling 14-match encounter. It all came down to the wire in the last game of the tournament. A silly mistake from the former World Number 1, saw Gukesh swooping in at the last moment to have the last laugh.
The 18-year-old Indian grandmaster is now crowned as the World Number 1 in chess and he will look to carry on his legacy in the coming years. And owing to this remarkable victory, D Gukesh surely deserves the prestigious Khel Ratna award.
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