A grand ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Friday, where President Draupadi Murmu conferred the esteemed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award upon four of India's distinguished athletes: double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, chess sensation Gukesh Dommaraju, men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and Paralympic gold medalist high jumper Praveen Kumar.

Manu Bhaker etched her name in history during the Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to earn an Olympic medal, clinching the bronze in the women's individual 10m air pistol event. She further distinguished herself by securing another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh, thus becoming the first Indian athlete to achieve two medals at a single Olympic Games.

However, the celebrated shooter experienced a minor mishap just moments before receiving her award from the president. As her accomplishments were being announced, Manu Bhaker took a few steps forward after a brief pause, only to realize that the announcer had not yet finished. With a wry smile, she waited an additional ten seconds before proceeding to the president to accept her award.

Watch: Manu Bhaker's blooper seconds before receiving Khel Ratna award

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Gukesh Dommaraju's rapid ascent in the chess arena was solidified in December 2024 when, at the age of 18, he triumphed over China's Ding Liren, becoming the youngest world chess champion in history. His victory at the FIDE World Championship held in Singapore made him only the second Indian, following Viswanathan Anand, to attain this prestigious title.

Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian men's hockey team, received accolades for his exemplary leadership and outstanding performances. As a pivotal player in India's bronze medal-winning squad at the Tokyo Olympics, he successfully guided the team to another bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His significant contributions have established him as a key figure in Indian hockey.

Praveen Kumar, who was born with a shorter left leg, defied remarkable challenges to secure a gold medal in the Men’s High Jump T64 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. This achievement followed his silver medal performance at the Tokyo Paralympics, highlighting his extraordinary talent and resilience.

In addition to the Khel Ratna awardees, 32 athletes were honored with the Arjuna Award. Among the recipients were wrestlers Aman Sehrawat and shooters Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh. Notably, 17 of the Arjuna Award winners were para-athletes, showcasing India's impressive performance at the Paris Paralympics, where they amassed 29 medals, including seven golds.

The National Sports Awards also featured the Dronacharya Award for lifetime achievement, which was awarded to former football coach Armando Agnelo Colaco, who significantly contributed to the development of Indian football.

The ceremony highlighted India's rich array of sporting talents, emphasizing the nation's ongoing success on the global stage.

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