Manu Bhaker, D Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh, Praveen Kumar to receive Khel Ratna award

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The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2024, recognizing outstanding contributions to Indian sports on Thursday.

The prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the highest honor in Indian sports, was conferred on Manu Bhaker (shooting), D Gukesh (chess), Harmanpreet Singh (hockey), and Praveen Kumar (para-athletics).

This award celebrates their exceptional performances, dedication, and contributions to their respective sports, highlighting their role in bringing glory to India on the international stage. The recognition underscores their achievements as inspirations for aspiring athletes across the country.

The Sports Ministry has released all the list of recipients for the prestigious National Sports Awards to be presented on January 17. Four athletes will receive the Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting honor in India, while 32 athletes will be honored with the Arjuna Award for their outstanding performances in their respective sports. Additionally, three coaches will be recognized with the Dronacharya Award for their exemplary contribution to training athletes.

The awards ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, where the Honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will confer the honors in a specially organized function. These awards celebrate the excellence and dedication of sportspersons and coaches in bringing glory to Indian sports.

A debate erupted when Manu Bhaker was excluded from the list of nominees for the prestigious Khel Ratna Award. Her father and coach, Jaspal Rana, voiced their dissatisfaction with the omission, criticizing the authorities for overlooking her accomplishments, particularly during the Olympic year. Manu's father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, humorously lamented that he should have encouraged his daughter to pursue cricket instead of shooting. However, Manu Bhaker responded to the controversy by stating that she was not concerned with accolades and remained committed to achieving further success for the nation. She acknowledged that a mistake might have occurred in the nomination process.