Key Highlights
- The President of India presented the nation’s top sporting honors at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17 January 2025.
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna went to shooter Manu Bhaker and chess prodigy D. Gukesh, among others.
- Thirty‑two athletes received Arjuna Awards, with para‑sportspersons constituting more than half of the cohort.
- India’s Paralympic contingent secured 29 medals in Paris, prompting heightened recognition for para‑athletes and their coaches.
- Lifetime and coaching awards highlighted long‑term contributions to Indian sport.
Detailed Insights
The ceremony, presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, recognized achievements spanning shooting, chess, field hockey, and para‑athletics. Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker was honoured for her precision shooting, while 14‑year‑old D. Gukesh became the second Indian to claim the World Chess Champion title after Viswanathan Anand. Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, a two‑time Olympic bronze medalist, also received the Khel Ratna.
Paralympic high‑jumper Praveen Kumar joined the elite list, underscoring India’s growing stature in para‑sports. The Arjuna Awards ceremony highlighted 32 recipients, including 17 para‑athletes who benefited from the nation’s 29‑medal haul at the Paris Paralympics (7 gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze). Notable awardees ranged from hurdler Jyothi Yarraji and javelin thrower Annu Rani to para‑archer Rakesh Kumar and para‑badminton star Nitesh Kumar.
Veteran Paralympic swimmer Murlikant Petkar, the country’s first Paralympic gold medallist, was conferred a Lifetime Arjuna Award, while coaches Deepali Deshpande (shooting) and Armando Agnelo Colaco (football) earned Dronacharya honors. Institutional recognitions included the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar for the Physical Education Foundation of India and the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for top‑performing universities.
Key Concepts
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna: India’s highest civilian award for sport, bestowed for sustained, outstanding performance.
- Arjuna Award: Annual honor recognizing consistent excellence across a wide range of sports disciplines.
- Dronacharya Award: Distinction granted to coaches who have produced internationally successful athletes.
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar: Award for organizations that significantly promote grassroots sports development.
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Presented to the university that accumulates the most points in the Khelo India University Games.