2024 National Sports Awards: Gukesh, Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet, and Praveen Kumar Honoured
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) has announced the recipients of the 2024 National Sports Awards, with D Gukesh, Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Singh, and Praveen Kumar receiving the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Gukesh, who became the youngest World Chess Champion in Singapore in December, Bhaker, who won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, Harmanpreet, who led India’s men’s hockey team to a bronze at the same Olympics, and Praveen, who claimed gold in men's high jump T64 at the Paris Paralympics, are among the top honorees.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for January 17, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the President of India will present the awards at 11:00 am.
The government selected the following sportspersons, coaches, universities, and entities for their exceptional achievements after a thorough review process:
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024
- Gukesh D (Chess)
- Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)
- Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics)
- Manu Bhaker (Shooting)
Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports 2024
- Jyothi Yarraji (Athletics)
- Annu Rani (Athletics)
- Nitu (Boxing)
- Saweety (Boxing)
- Vantika Agrawal (Chess)
- Salima Tete (Hockey)
- Abhishek (Hockey)
- Sanjay (Hockey)
- Jarmanpreet Singh (Hockey)
- Sukhjeet Singh (Hockey)
- Rakesh Kumar (Para-Archery)
- Preeti Pal (Para-Athletics)
- Jeevanji Deepthi (Para-Athletics)
- Ajeet Singh (Para-Athletics)
- Sachin Sarjerao Khilari (Para-Athletics)
- Dharambir (Para-Athletics)
- Pranav Soorma (Para-Athletics)
- H Hokato Sema (Para-Athletics)
- Simran (Para-Athletics)
- Navdeep (Para-Athletics)
- Nitesh Kumar (Para-Badminton)
- Thulasimathi Murugesan (Para-Badminton)
- Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (Para-Badminton)
- Manisha Ramadass (Para-Badminton)
- Kapil Parmar (Para-Judo)
- Mona Agarwal (Para-Shooting)
- Rubina Francis (Para-Shooting)
- Swapnil Suresh Kusale (Shooting)
- Sarabjot Singh (Shooting)
- Abhay Singh (Squash)
- Sajan Prakash (Swimming)
- Aman (Wrestling)
Arjuna Awards (Lifetime) for Outstanding Performance in Sports 2024
- Sucha Singh (Athletics)
- Murlikant Rajaram Petkar (Para-Swimming)
Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports 2024
- Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting)
- Deepali Deshpande (Shooting)
- Sandeep Sangwan (Hockey)
Dronacharya Lifetime Achievement Award
- S Muralidharan (Badminton)
- Armando Agnelo Colaco (Football)
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
- Physical Education Foundation of India
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2024
- Chandigarh University (Overall Winner)
- Lovely Professional University, Punjab (1st Runner-Up)
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (2nd Runner-Up)
The National Sports Awards recognize the achievements of sportspersons and coaches who have excelled in their respective fields. The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award acknowledges extraordinary sporting performance over the past four years. The Arjuna Award honors athletes for their consistent performance, leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline. The Dronacharya Award is given to coaches who have made significant contributions to athletes' success on the international stage.
This year’s selection process involved a rigorous review by a committee led by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian of the Supreme Court, along with distinguished sportspersons, sports journalists, and administrators.
