File photo of Harmanpreet Singh.©Instagram
After being felicitated with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh on Friday said all credit goes to his team and family members. Two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, world chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar received the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Friday. Harmanpreet Singh had participated in the Tokyo Olympics where India had won the hockey bronze. He has also been nominated for FIH Player of the Year. Under his leadership, the Indian team won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
Speaking to reporters, Harmanpreet Singh said he was happy to receive the prestigious award.
“I am very happy and the credit goes to my team and family members… The journey has been great as we performed very well and won many medals in different tournaments…” Harmanpreet Singh told reporters.
According to other Khel Ratna winners, Gukesh's success story was one of the major highlights of Indian sport in 2024. He created history in December by defeating China's Ding Liren in the decisive 14th match of the FIDE World Championship match in Singapore. The championship, with the score tied at 6.5-6.5 heading into the final match, saw a great performance from Gukesh, who secured a 7.5-6.5 victory and, at the age of 18, became the youngest ever became world champion. He also became India's second world chess champion after Viswanathan Anand.
Para-athlete Praveen Kumar won gold in the men's T64 high jump at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Manu Bhaker opened India's medal tally at the Olympics after securing third place in the women's individual 10m air pistol event, becoming the first ever female shooter to win an Olympic medal for India. Afterwards, Sarabjot Singh and Bhaker won the bronze medal in the 10 meter air pistol (mixed team), India's first-ever shooting team medal.
In her final event, she narrowly missed the historic grand treble, finishing fourth in the women's 25m pistol shooting. She missed the chance to become the first Indian to win three medals at the Olympics.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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