“Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that can be developed through dedication and hard work.” — The spirit of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 is India’s highest sporting honor, recognizing outstanding athletes for their exceptional performances on national and international platforms. Instituted in 1991-92, the award is named after legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand and symbolizes excellence in Indian sports.
The Indian government has officially announced the 2024 Khel Ratna Award winners, celebrating four remarkable athletes who have showcased extraordinary skill and determination: Manu Bhaker (Shooting), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey), Praveen Kumar (Para Athletics), and D Gukesh (Chess). This year’s selection was marked by both celebration and controversy.
📜 What is the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?
The Khel Ratna Award is presented annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, recognizing Indian athletes for their outstanding contributions across various sports disciplines. It represents the pinnacle of sporting achievement in India.
Award History & Evolution:
- Instituted: 1991-92 as “Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award”
- Renamed: 2021 as “Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award” to honor India’s hockey legend
- First Recipient: Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand (1991-92)
- Frequency: Awarded annually to exceptional athletes
Award Components:
- A medal bearing Major Dhyan Chand’s image
- Official certificate of recognition
- Cash prize (amount varies by government decision)
- National prestige and recognition
Eligibility Criteria:
- Outstanding performance at international sporting events
- Achievements over the past four years are considered
- Contribution to sports development in India
- Exceptional leadership and sportsmanship
Think of the Khel Ratna as the “Bharat Ratna of Sports.” Just as Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian honor, Khel Ratna is our highest sports award. It’s like winning an Olympic gold medal’s worth of recognition from your own country — the ultimate validation of a sports career in India.
📌 Winners of Khel Ratna Award 2024
The 2024 Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award celebrates four extraordinary athletes who have brought glory to India through their exceptional performances:
- Manu Bhaker — Shooting (First Indian post-Independence to win 2 medals in single Olympics)
- Harmanpreet Singh — Hockey (Captain who led India to consecutive Olympic bronze medals)
- Praveen Kumar — Para Athletics (Gold medalist and Asian record holder)
- D Gukesh — Chess (Youngest World Championship challenger)
These four athletes represent diverse sporting disciplines, showcasing India’s growing excellence across traditional sports, para-athletics, and mind sports.
| Athlete | Sport | Key Achievement 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Manu Bhaker | Shooting | 2 Olympic medals (bronze) at Paris 2024 — historic first post-Independence |
| Harmanpreet Singh | Hockey | Led India to 2nd consecutive Olympic bronze (Tokyo + Paris) |
| Praveen Kumar | Para Athletics (High Jump T64) | Gold medal at Paris Paralympics 2024, Asian record |
| D Gukesh | Chess | Youngest World Championship challenger, major international titles |
✨ Manu Bhaker: Shooting’s Historic Star
Manu Bhaker created history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming the first Indian athlete post-Independence to win two medals in a single Olympic edition. This unprecedented achievement in shooting marked a watershed moment for Indian sports.
Historic Achievements:
- Paris 2024 Olympics: Won bronze in women’s 10m air pistol individual event
- Paris 2024 Olympics: Won bronze in 10m air pistol mixed team event (with Sarabjot Singh)
- Breaking Barriers: Ended India’s 12-year Olympic shooting medal drought (since London 2012)
- Multiple Medals: First Indian to win multiple medals in single Olympics after Independence
- Age Factor: Achieved this at just 22 years old, promising more glory ahead
Why She Won Khel Ratna:
Manu Bhaker’s remarkable performance in shooting set new records and inspired young athletes across India. Her achievement demonstrates that Indian shooters can compete at the highest level and bring home multiple medals from a single Olympics.
Key Point: Manu Bhaker — First Indian post-Independence to win 2 Olympic medals in one edition (Paris 2024). Two bronze medals in shooting. This is highly testable for “firsts” in Indian Olympic history.
🏑 Harmanpreet Singh: Hockey’s Leader
Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, led India to its second consecutive Olympic bronze medal at Paris 2024, following the bronze at Tokyo 2020. His leadership revived India’s dominance in hockey on the global stage.
Major Achievements:
- Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Bronze medal (India’s first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years)
- Paris 2024 Olympics: Bronze medal as captain, leading from the front
- Leadership: Captained India to back-to-back Olympic medals for first time since 1970s
- Scoring Prowess: One of world’s best drag-flickers and penalty corner specialists
- Consistency: Maintained high performance across multiple international tournaments
Why He Won Khel Ratna:
As captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, his exceptional leadership skills and technical prowess revived India’s hockey legacy. He demonstrated that Indian hockey could return to Olympic podiums consistently after decades of struggle.
India dominated hockey from 1928-1980 with 8 Olympic gold medals but then struggled for decades. Harmanpreet’s back-to-back bronze medals (2020, 2024) mark a resurgence. What factors contribute to a sport’s decline and revival at the national level? Consider infrastructure, investment, coaching, grassroots development, and changing global competition.
🏃 Praveen Kumar: Para Athletics Gold
Praveen Kumar won gold in high jump (T64 category) at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, setting a new Asian record. His achievement highlights India’s growing prominence in para-athletics and serves as inspiration for aspiring para-athletes.
Championship Performance:
- Paris 2024 Paralympics: Gold medal in men’s high jump T64 category
- Asian Record: Set new continental record with his winning jump
- Consistency: Dominated the event with superior technique and mental strength
- Representation: Brought glory to India in para-athletics on global stage
- Inspiration: Demonstrated that disability is no barrier to sporting excellence
T64 Category Explained:
The T64 classification is for athletes with a leg amputation who compete using a prosthetic limb. Athletes in this category have demonstrated exceptional ability to overcome physical challenges and compete at the highest level.
Why He Won Khel Ratna:
His success highlights India’s growing prominence in para-athletics and serves as an inspiration for aspiring para-athletes nationwide. The Khel Ratna recognition also emphasizes equal celebration of Paralympic achievements alongside Olympic success.
♟️ D Gukesh: Chess Prodigy
D Gukesh (Dommaraju Gukesh) emerged as one of India’s top chess players, achieving major international milestones and becoming the youngest-ever challenger for the World Chess Championship at just 18 years old.
Chess Achievements:
- World Championship Challenger: Youngest player to qualify for World Chess Championship match
- Grandmaster Title: Became one of youngest Grandmasters in chess history
- Rating Milestone: Crossed 2700+ Elo rating, joining elite chess players globally
- Team Contribution: Key player in India’s Chess Olympiad gold medal win
- Tournament Victories: Multiple international tournament wins strengthening India’s chess dominance
Why He Won Khel Ratna:
His strategic brilliance has strengthened India’s global standing in chess, paving the way for future generations. Following the legacy of Viswanathan Anand (the first Khel Ratna recipient), Gukesh represents India’s continued dominance in chess.
India’s Chess Legacy:
From Viswanathan Anand (five-time World Champion) to Gukesh, India has established itself as a chess superpower. The Khel Ratna to Gukesh continues this proud tradition spanning over three decades.
Don’t confuse: D Gukesh is the youngest World Championship CHALLENGER (qualified to compete), not the youngest World Champion (that’s still Garry Kasparov at 22). Also, the first Khel Ratna recipient was Viswanathan Anand (chess, 1991-92), making Gukesh the second chess player to receive this honor.
⚖️ The Nomination Controversy
The selection process for the Khel Ratna Award 2024 faced significant criticism due to the initial omission of Manu Bhaker despite her record-breaking Olympic achievements. This controversy highlighted systemic issues in India’s sports award nomination process.
What Happened:
- Initial Exclusion: Manu Bhaker’s name was missing from the original Khel Ratna nomination list
- Public Outcry: Media, sports personalities, and public expressed shock and outrage
- Possible Reasons: Reports suggested either a missing application, nomination oversight, or procedural discrepancy
- Swift Correction: Sports Ministry took corrective action after backlash
- Final Inclusion: Manu Bhaker was rightfully added to the winners list
Why This Matters:
- Transparency Issues: Raised questions about clarity in nomination and selection processes
- Athlete Burden: Should historic Olympic medalists need to apply for recognition?
- Automatic Consideration: Debate on whether Olympic medalists should automatically qualify
- Systemic Reform: Emphasized need for streamlined, fair award processes
Lessons Learned:
The controversy emphasized the need for transparency and fairness in India’s sports award selection process. It sparked discussions about whether Olympic medal winners should receive automatic consideration for the Khel Ratna, eliminating potential procedural oversights.
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The four winners are Manu Bhaker (Shooting), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey), Praveen Kumar (Para Athletics), and D Gukesh (Chess).
Manu Bhaker became the first Indian athlete post-Independence to win two medals in a single Olympic edition at Paris 2024, both bronze in shooting.
The award was instituted in 1991-92 as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, then renamed to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.
Praveen Kumar won gold in high jump T64 category at Paris 2024 Paralympics and set a new Asian record.
Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand was the first recipient of the Khel Ratna Award in 1991-92. D Gukesh is the second chess player to receive it.
