Hockey Star Hardik Singh Recommended for Khel Ratna; 24 Sportspersons Nominated for Arjuna Awards
New Delhi | Agency: Indian men’s hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh has been recommended for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour.
In addition, a total of 24 sportspersons from a wide range of disciplines have been nominated for the Arjuna Award this year, reflecting the growing depth and diversity of Indian sport.
Hardik Singh’s Achievements
Hardik Singh has been a key member of India’s recent hockey resurgence. He was part of the Indian teams that won bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2021 and the Paris Olympics 2024, and also featured in the squad that clinched gold at the Asia Cup this year.
His consistency, leadership, and impact in the midfield have made him one of the most dependable players of the current generation.
Selection Committee and Process
The recommendations were finalised on Wednesday during a meeting of the national selection committee, which included Indian Olympic Association vice-president Gagan Narang, former badminton player Aparna Popat, and former hockey player MM Somaya.
The panel selected 21 additional names for the Arjuna Award after detailed deliberations.
Notable Arjuna Award Nominees
Among the prominent names recommended for the Arjuna Award are young chess sensation Divya Deshmukh, who at just 19 became the first Indian to win the Chess World Cup, and seasoned grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi.
Athlete Tejaswin Shankar, who won silver at the 2023 Asian Games and finished second at the Asian Championships this year, has also been nominated.
Yoga and Emerging Sports Recognised
In a significant development, yoga athlete Aarti has been recommended for the Arjuna Award for the first time, five years after Yogasana received formal recognition from the Sports Ministry.
Aarti is a national and Asian champion, and Yogasana is set to feature as a demonstration sport at the 2026 Asian Games.
Other Key Nominees
Other sportspersons recommended for the Arjuna Award include:
- Mohammad Afzal and Priyanka (Athletics)
- Narender (Boxing)
- Dhanush Srikant (Deaf Shooting)
- Pranati Nayak (Gymnastics)
- Rajkumar Pal and Lalremsiami (Hockey)
- Surjit (Kabaddi)
- Nirmala Bhati (Kho Kho)
- Rudranksh Khandelwal (Para Shooting)
- Ekta Bhayan (Para Athletics)
- Padmanabh Singh (Polo)
- Arvind Singh (Rowing)
- Akhil Sheoran and Mehuli Ghosh (Shooting)
- Sutirtha Mukherjee (Table Tennis)
- Sonam Malik (Wrestling)
- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton)
- Pooja (Kabaddi)
Last Year’s Khel Ratna Awardees
Last year, four athletes were conferred with the Khel Ratna: world chess champion D Gukesh, Indian men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, para-athlete Praveen Kumar, and star shooter Manu Bhaker.
Prize Money and Honour
The Khel Ratna Award carries a citation, a medal, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh, while each Arjuna Award recipient receives ₹15 lakh, along with a citation and statuette.
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