India’s ace shooter Manu Bhaker and World Chess Championship winner D Gukesh will receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award after an announcement on Thursday (Jan 2). After initially missing out on the shortlist, Bhaker will receive the honour along with D Gukesh on January 17, having won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. The prestigious honour comes as another feather in her impressive hat, as she has become the third Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win multiple individual medals.

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Harmapreet, Praveen join Bhaker

As announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Thursday, Bhaker will be joined by Gukesh, who won the WCC by beating defending champion China’s Ding Liren in a tense 14-game final in December at the age of 18, thereby becoming the youngest champion ever.

Alongside the duo, hockey star Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar will also receive the top sports honour of the nation. Harmanpreet led India to the Paris Olympic bronze medal in field hockey, as the country won back-to-back medals for the first time since the 1970s. 

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Praveen Kumar, on the other hand, was India’s shining star at the Paris Paralympics, and India had yet another successful campaign.

Bhaker to receive Khel Ratna hounor

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Despite having reportedly missed out on filing her nomination for the prestigious honour, Bhaker’s name was considered a formality to win the Khel Ratna award. She won a bronze medal in the 10 m air pistol event in the women’s category at the Paris Olympics before winning another bronze medal in the 10 m air pistol team’s event with Sarabjot Singh. She was close to winning a third medal at the Games before finishing third in the 25 m air pistol event.

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Gukesh also had a wonderful year as he became the youngest World Chess Championship winner at 18 as he beat China’s Ding Liren. He also became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the WCC in 24 years.

Harmanpreet’s name was also a formality, as he helped India win back-to-back bronze medals in field hockey at the Olympics. The awards will be distributed on January 17 in the national capital, New Delhi.