Manu Bhaker, Gukesh among 4 athletes to get Khel Ratna

The double Olympic bronze medal winner Manu Bhaker and the reigning chess World Champion D Gukesh as part of four athletes who would be awarded country’s highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.

Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, part of the team, which won bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics gold medallist Praveen Kumar who won gold in men’s T64 high jump, are the other two who will be awarded in a ceremony that is to be held on January 17.

Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya used his discretionary powers to add to the list that was recommended by the Arjuna Award committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Ramasubramanian.

Manu’s name missing from the list of recommended athletes had caused big controversy and embarrassment for the sports ministry after it was revealed that her name was not put up in front of the committee at all.

However, ministry sources had given this indication post the furore that Manu’s and Gukesh’s names would be added by the minister.

The formal announcement of awards that came on Thursday was kept on hold after the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs’ demise.

Other than the four big winners, the list also includes Olympic medal winners, in shooting Swapnil Kusale, Sarabjot Singh and Aman Sehrawat, who won a bronze in wrestling as part of the 32 winners of the Arjuna Awards.

2023 Women World Boxing gold medallist Saweety Boora, javelin star Annu Rani, hockey ace Salima Tete and track and field star Jyothi Yarraji are other big names that feature in the list.