Bahadurgarh (Haryana) [India], January 7 (HBTV): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini extended his congratulations to all players from Haryana who were selected for the Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards.

Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh, and Para Athlete Praveen Kumar were conferred with the prestigious Khel Ratna. Manu Bhaker, a record-breaking shooter from Haryana, made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning two bronze medals. She became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal and the first Indian athlete to secure two medals at a single edition of the Olympics.

Speaking to reporters, CM Nayab Saini said, 'I congratulate all the sportspersons from Haryana who have been selected for the Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards.'

Indian men's hockey players Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, and women's hockey team captain Salima Tete received the Arjuna Awards for their outstanding performance in sports during 2024. The Indian men's hockey team secured back-to-back bronze medals at the Paris Olympics.

Other recipients of the Arjuna Awards include Indian chess grandmaster Vantika Agrawal and athlete Jyothi Yarraji. Para athletes Preeti Pal, Jeevanji Deepthi, Ajeet Singh, Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Dharambir, Pranav Soorma, Hokato Sema, Simran, and Navdeep were also honored.

Olympic medalists Swapnil Suresh Kusale and Sarabjot Singh, along with Para-Olympic shooters Mona Agarwal and Rubina Francis, were among the Arjuna Awardees. Former Dempo FC and East Bengal head coach Armando Agnelo Colaco was awarded the Dronacharya Award in the lifetime category.

The award ceremony will take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025, where the awardees will receive their honors from President Droupadi Murmu. (ANI)