The Khel Ratna Award, officially known as the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award (formerly the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award), is India’s highest sporting honour, conferred annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Previously, the award was based on an athlete’s performance in a specific year, but it is now awarded for achievements over the past four years.
A 12-member committee evaluates the performance of athletes across various international events, including the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. Since 2020, the award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.
5. Manish Narwal (20 years)
Para shooter Manish Narwal, at just 20 years old, received the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021. The Haryana-born athlete clinched gold in the Mixed 50m Air Pistol SH1 event at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which earned him the nomination for the award. Narwal, who has a right-hand disability, is currently ranked fourth globally. He added to his accolades with a silver medal in the 10m air pistol SH1 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and a bronze at the 2022 Asian Para Games in the same event.
4. Avani Lekhara (20 years)
Another exceptional para-shooter, Avani Lekhara, was also awarded the Khel Ratna at 20 in 2021. At the Tokyo Paralympics, she made history by winning gold in the 10m air rifle SH1 and bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 events, making her the first Indian female Paralympian to secure two medals in a single Games. Lekhara’s legacy continued to grow as she defended her gold in the 10m air rifle SH1 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Hailing from Jaipur and suffering from paraplegia, she has three World Cup medals, including two golds, and a gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games in the 10m air rifle event.
3. Karnam Malleswari (20 years)
Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari made history in 1995 as the first female athlete to receive the Khel Ratna Award. At just 20 years old, she was recognized for her achievements, including becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal— a bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Malleswari also dominated the World Championships, winning back-to-back golds in 1994 and 1995 in the 54kg category. Additionally, she has two World Championship bronze medals and two Asian Games silver medals to her name.
2. Abhinav Bindra (19 years)
Abhinav Bindra made history in 2008 by becoming India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the Beijing Olympics. However, his journey began much earlier. At 19, he received the Khel Ratna Award in 2001, following his participation in the Sydney Olympics and his bronze at the 2001 Munich World Cup, where he set a new junior world record. Bindra went on to win six gold medals in international competitions that year, solidifying his place as one of India’s top shooters. He has one World Championship gold (2006 Zagreb), three Asian Games medals, and seven Commonwealth Games medals.
1. D Gukesh (18 years)
At the age of 18 years, 7 months, and 20 days, Grandmaster D Gukesh became the youngest-ever recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. In 2024, he capped off an extraordinary year by winning the World Chess Championship, defeating Chinese grandmaster Ling Diren, and became the youngest undisputed world champion. Gukesh also won both individual and team gold medals at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, adding to his previous achievements, which include individual gold and team bronze at the 2022 Chess Olympiad. Additionally, he was part of the Indian Men’s Team that earned a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games. In 2023, he surpassed Viswanathan Anand’s 37-year-old record to become India’s highest-rated chess player.