New Delhi: D Gukesh, the youngest world champion in chess history, has created another new history. The Government of India has decided to honour Gukesh with the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award for the year 2024. This is the highest sports award given by the Government of India. Born on 29 May 2006, D Gukesh has become the youngest player to win this award in the history of Khel Ratna.

broke abhivan bindra's record

Shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won the first individual gold medal in Olympic history for India, also won this award in 2001 at the age of 18. Gukesh has surpassed Bindra by a margin of a few days. D Gukesh has become the second chess player to win the Khel Ratna Award after Vishwanathan Anand.

Four players got the award for the year 2024

Along with Gukesh, Manu Bhaker, who won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men's hockey team who won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, and para athlete Praveen Kumar will be awarded the Khel Ratna Award. The winners will be given the awards at a special function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025.

The award was started in the year 1991-92, the name changed in 2021

The Khel Ratna Award was started in the year 1991-92 in the name of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Vishwanathan Anand became the first player to win this award. In the year 2021, the current central government decided to name this award after hockey wizard Major Dhyanchand. This award is now known as Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award.