Watch: D Gukesh, Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Singh and Praveen Kumar receive Khel Ratna from President Murmu

Chess sensation D Gukesh and ace shooter Manu Bhaker were among four recipients of the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in New Delhi on Friday. Indian men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-high jumper Praveen Kumar were the other athletes besides Bhaker and Gukesh who received the country’s highest sporting honour from President Droupadi Murmu at the at the National Sports Awards ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Gukesh had been crowned the youngest world champion in the history of chess last month after defeating Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren in Singapore last month. The 18-year-old Grandmaster was also only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the most prestigious competition in the sport.

Watch Gukesh receive the Khel Ratna award from the President here:

A historic moment for 🇮🇳 Indian chess! 🏆

Congratulations to 🇮🇳 GM Gukesh on receiving the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu👏

Your hard work and passion continue to inspire us all—onward and upward 🥳👏@DGukesh

📹Doordarshan pic.twitter.com/4AMZ8ClZD9

— Chess.com - India (@chesscom_in) January 17, 2025

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Bhaker, Harmanpreet and Praveen, meanwhile, were among standout performers in India’s Olympic and Paralympic campaigns in Paris last year.

Bhaker made history by winning two Olympic bronze medals in 10m air pistol – in the women’s individual event as well as in the mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh. The 22-year-old, in the process, became the first Indian post-Independence to win multiple medals in the same edition of the Olympics.

President Droupadi Murmu confers Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 to pistol shooter Manu Bhaker for her exceptional achievements in shooting.

Watch Live: https://t.co/kKH2c7MOXS@rashtrapatibhvn @realmanubhaker @Media_SAI @MIB_India @PIB_India @YASMinistry @IndiaSports… pic.twitter.com/5K5UnTc3Mp

— Doordarshan National दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) January 17, 2025

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Ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet, meanwhile, had played a key role in helping India win bronze in Paris by finishing as the top goal-scorer (10) in the tournament. It was the first time in more than 50 years that India won back-to-back Olympic medals in hockey, with the 29-year-old having helped the team win bronze in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Here's the moment: Our Captain and our Pride, Harmanpreet Singh was conferred with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 by our Honourable President Droupadi Murmu.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame
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.@CMO_Odisha @IndiaSports @sports_odisha @Media_SAI @FIH_Hockey pic.twitter.com/7VpDudcw70

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 17, 2025

Praveen, meanwhile, was one of seven gold medallists in India’s record-breaking campaign in the Paralympics – where they won a whopping 29 medals, 10 more than what they had managed in Tokyo 2020. The 21-year-old from Govindgarh, Uttar Pradesh had won gold in the men’s high jump T64 category by clearing 2.08 metres .

🏆#NationalSportsAwards🏆

President Droupadi Murmu confers Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 to Para-Athlete Praveen Kumar@rashtrapatibhvn @YASMinistry #NationalSportsAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/ZE6wWAQ97H

— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 17, 2025

Besides the four Khel Ratna recipients, a total of 32 athletes received the Arjuna Award, including an unprecedented 17 para-athletes.