Manu Bhaker, Gukesh D among four athletes receive Khel Ratna award from President Droupadi Murmu

Alongside Manu and Gukesh, India hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete high jumper Praveen Kumar also received the highest sporting honour in the country. 

All four athletes have received the honours on the back of exceptional performances in the sporting arena. Bhaker had become the first Indian since Independence to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games, while Gukesh had become the youngest-ever chess world champion. Hockey skipper Harmanpreet had led India to two bronze medal wins in the Tokyo Olympics and Paris Olympics, while Praveen won silver and gold at the Tokyo Games and Paris Games, respectively.

While these four received the highest sporting honour, 32 athletes were also honoured with another prestigious award - Arjuna Award. 

Watch the Video of the award presentation here:

Chess.com India posted the video of Gukesh receiving his award from the president. "A historic moment for Indian chess! Congratulations to GM Gukesh on receiving the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu. Your hard work and passion continue to inspire us all—onward and upward," the body wrote.