India's dual Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and chess sensation D Gukesh have been selected as two of the four recipients of the esteemed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, as announced by the sports ministry, according to PTI on Thursday. This announcement follows a week of controversy regarding Bhaker's nomination, which may have been initially overlooked.

Bhaker later admitted to a potential ‘oversight’ on her part during the nomination process. "I believe there has been an oversight, possibly on my part, while submitting the nomination, which is currently being rectified. Regardless of the award, I will remain driven to secure more medals for my nation. I kindly urge everyone not to speculate on this issue," she stated previously.

The other two recipients of this year's Khel Ratna Award, which is the highest sporting accolade in India, are Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the men's hockey team, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.

Bhaker made history at the Paris Olympics in August by becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition, earning bronze in both the individual 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team events.

In the same Games, Harmanpreet led the Indian men's hockey team to its second consecutive bronze medal, further solidifying his legacy in Indian sports. Meanwhile, the 18-year-old chess prodigy Gukesh gained recognition as the youngest-ever World Champion and played a significant role in India's historic gold medal victory at the Chess Olympiad last year.

The fourth awardee, Praveen Kumar, was recognized for his remarkable achievement at the Paris Paralympics, where he won the T64 high-jump title. The T64 classification is designated for athletes with one or both legs missing below the knee, who utilize a prosthetic leg for running.

The awardees are set to receive their honors from the President of India during a special ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025, as confirmed by the sports ministry in an official press release.

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