Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and World Chess Champion D Gukesh received Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from President Droupadi Murmu during the National Sports Awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. Bhaker created history as she won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, thus becoming the first athlete from the country to win two medals in a single edition of an Olympics. She won a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team events at the Paris Olympics. On the other hand, Gukesh became the youngest world champion following beating China’s Ding Liren last month. He became the second world champion from India after Viswanathan Anand.
Along with Bhaker and Gukesh, men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic gold-winning high jumper Praveen Kumar were also given Khel Ratna Award. Harmanpreet led India to back-to-back bronze medals at the Olympics while Praveen won a gold last year at the Paris Paralympics in the high jump. Meanwhile, a total of 32 athletes, including 17 para-athletes were given Arjuna Award. India had a great run in Paris Paralympics, winning 29 medals, including seven golds and nine silvers. Paris Olympics bronze medal-winning group of wrestler Aman Sehrawat, shooters Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh and the men’s hockey team players Jarmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay and Abhishek were also among the Arjuna Award winners.
Ahead of the National Sports Day awards, there was a massive controversy as Manu Bhaker was reportedly omitted from a preliminary list of nominees. Manu’s father and coach, Jaspal Rana, expressed their disappointment over the omission, however, Manu Bhaker clarified there was a lapse on her part while filing the nomination.
“Regarding the ongoing issue with my nomination for the prestigious Khel Ratna award, I would like to state that, as an athlete, my role is to play and perform for my country. I believe there has been a lapse, possibly on my part, while filing for the nomination, which is being corrected,” Manu said in a post on Instagram.
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