India celebrated its sporting excellence at the National Sports Awards ceremony on Friday, where President Droupadi Murmu bestowed prestigious honors upon a cohort of exceptional athletes.  The highlight of the ceremony was the awarding of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honor, to four remarkable individuals.

Among the recipients were Manu Bhaker, a 22-year-old shooting prodigy, and D Gukesh, an 18-year-old chess grandmaster.  Bhaker etched her name in Indian sporting history by becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two Olympic medals in a single Games—bronze medals in the 10m air pistol individual and mixed team events at the Tokyo Olympics.  Her achievement is a testament to her dedication and skill.

Gukesh, meanwhile, stunned the chess world by becoming the youngest-ever world champion, defeating China's Ding Liren last month. He joins the legendary Viswanathan Anand as only the second Indian to achieve this remarkable feat, solidifying his place among the elite in the world of chess.  His exceptional talent and strategic prowess have made him a global sensation.

Joining Bhaker and Gukesh in receiving the Khel Ratna were Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men's hockey team, and Praveen Kumar, a Paralympic gold medalist high jumper. Harmanpreet's leadership was instrumental in India's bronze medal wins at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, highlighting his unwavering commitment and strategic brilliance.  Praveen, overcoming the adversity of being born with a shorter left leg, secured a gold medal at the Paris Paralympics, improving upon his silver from the Tokyo Olympics. His triumph is a testament to his indomitable spirit and unwavering determination.

The ceremony also saw the presentation of the Arjuna Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in sports.  A record 17 para-athletes were among the 32 Arjuna awardees, reflecting India's remarkable success at the Paris Paralympics, where the nation secured 29 medals, including seven golds and nine silvers.  This substantial number of para-athletes honored underscores India's growing commitment to inclusivity and excellence in Paralympic sports.

Among the Arjuna Award recipients were Paris Olympics bronze medalists Aman Sehrawat (wrestling), Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh (shooting), and several members of the men's hockey team.  Lifetime achievement Arjuna Awards were presented to Sucha Singh (athletics) and Murlikant Petkar (para-swimming), acknowledging their enduring contributions to their respective sports.

The Dronacharya Awards, recognizing outstanding coaches, were also conferred.  Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting), Deepali Deshpande (Shooting), and Sandeep Sangwan (Hockey) received Dronacharya Awards, while S. Muralidharan (Badminton) and Armando Colaco (Football) received lifetime achievement Dronacharya Awards for their monumental contributions to their respective fields.  The awards ceremony was a fitting tribute to the dedication, perseverance, and skill of India's top athletes and coaches.