Gukesh, Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Singh, and Praveen Kumar have been nominated for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. The awards ceremony will take place on January 17, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Gukesh, Manu Bhaker Among Khel Ratna Awardees for 2025
India’s highest sporting honor, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, will be conferred upon chess prodigy D. Gukesh, pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar at a ceremony on January 17, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Star Achievements
- D. Gukesh (Chess): The 18-year-old made history by becoming the youngest world chess champion, defeating Ding Liren in Singapore. Gukesh also led India to team gold at the Budapest Olympiad and won the Candidates Tournament earlier this year.
- Manu Bhaker (Shooting): Bhaker etched her name in history at the Paris Olympics by winning two medals—the 10m air pistol individual bronze and 10m air pistol mixed team bronze.
- Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey): The Indian men’s hockey captain played a pivotal role in securing a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal at Paris.
- Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics): Praveen excelled in the T64 high jump classification at the Paris Paralympics, clinching the championship title.
Awards Ceremony Details
The awards will be presented by the President of India in a grand ceremony organized by the Sports Ministry. Alongside the Khel Ratna recipients, several athletes and coaches will be honored with Arjuna and Dronacharya Awards for their outstanding contributions to Indian sports.
Full List of 2025 Sports Awardees
| Sr. No. | Athlete Name | Sport | Award Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gukesh D | Chess | Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna |
| 2 | Manu Bhaker | Shooting | Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna |
| 3 | Harmanpreet Singh | Hockey | Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna |
| 4 | Praveen Kumar | Para-Athletics | Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna |
| 5 | Jyothi Yarraji | Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 6 | Annu Rani | Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 7 | Nitu | Boxing | Arjuna Award |
| 8 | Saweety | Boxing | Arjuna Award |
| 9 | Vantika Agrawal | Chess | Arjuna Award |
| 10 | Salima Tete | Hockey | Arjuna Award |
| 11 | Abhishek | Hockey | Arjuna Award |
| 12 | Sanjay | Hockey | Arjuna Award |
| 13 | Jarmanpreet Singh | Hockey | Arjuna Award |
| 14 | Sukhjeet Singh | Hockey | Arjuna Award |
| 15 | Rakesh Kumar | Para-Archery | Arjuna Award |
| 16 | Preeti Pal | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 17 | Jeevanji Deepthi | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 18 | Ajeet Singh | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 19 | Sachin Sarjerao Khilari | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 20 | Dharambir | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 21 | Pranav Soorma | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 22 | H Hokato Sema | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 23 | Simran | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 24 | Navdeep | Para-Athletics | Arjuna Award |
| 25 | Nitesh Kumar | Para-Badminton | Arjuna Award |
| 26 | Thulasimathi Murugesan | Para-Badminton | Arjuna Award |
| 27 | Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan | Para-Badminton | Arjuna Award |
| 28 | Manisha Ramadass | Para-Badminton | Arjuna Award |
| 29 | Kapil Parmar | Para-Judo | Arjuna Award |
| 30 | Mona Agarwal | Para-Shooting | Arjuna Award |
| 31 | Rubina Francis | Para-Shooting | Arjuna Award |
| 32 | Swapnil Suresh Kusale | Shooting | Arjuna Award |
| 33 | Sarabjot Singh | Shooting | Arjuna Award |
| 34 | Abhay Singh | Squash | Arjuna Award |
| 35 | Sajan Prakash | Swimming | Arjuna Award |
| 36 | Aman | Wrestling | Arjuna Award |
| 37 | Sucha Singh | Athletics | Arjuna Award (Lifetime) |
| 38 | Murlikant Rajaram Petkar | Para-Swimming | Arjuna Award (Lifetime) |
| 39 | Subhash Rana | Para-Shooting | Dronacharya Award |
| 40 | Deepali Deshpande | Shooting | Dronacharya Award |
| 41 | Sandeep Sangwan | Hockey | Dronacharya Award |
| 42 | S Muralidharan | Badminton | Dronacharya Award (Lifetime) |
| 43 | Armando Agnelo Colaco | Football | Dronacharya Award (Lifetime) |
This comprehensive table captures the achievements of India’s finest athletes and coaches, honored at the 2025 Sports Awards ceremony.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Khel Ratna and accompanying sports awards reflect India’s rich sporting talent and the nation’s commitment to fostering excellence in diverse fields. As these athletes take center stage at Rashtrapati Bhavan, their achievements will inspire the next generation to aim for greatness.
