Manu Bhaker and Gukesh will be honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award:

Pistol Shooter Manu Bhaker and chess champion D Gukesh, created history for India on the Global level. They both will be honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, which is the highest sporting honor in the country, on January 17.

 

Manu Bhaker created the history at Olympic Games 2024, by becoming the only Indian athlete who won two medals at a single Olympic Games. While Gukesh becomes the youngest world champion in chess. Gukesh also won the Candidates tournament earlier in 2024 to secure his spot in the World Chess Championship and led the Indian chess team to a team gold at the Budapest Olympiad. 

 

The awardees will receive their award from the President of India at a specially organized function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January 2025.