Paralympic Champion Praveen Kumar Bags Prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

In a grand ceremony to be held on January 17th, Paralympic high jump champion Praveen Kumar will receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award recognizes his outstanding achievements in sports, particularly para-sports, which have gained immense recognition under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kumar, a native of Govindgarh (Noida), Uttar Pradesh, secured gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics in the men's high jump T64 category with a remarkable winning jump of 2.08m, breaking an Asian record. His impressive victory follows his silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where he again achieved an Asian record.

"I feel honoured to be named a Khel Ratna awardee," Kumar expressed in a statement, attributing the growing recognition of para-sports under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. "Under his guidance, para-sports are receiving much-needed recognition. I will continue to give my best in major tournaments to bring more laurels to the nation."

This prestigious award comes as no surprise, given Kumar's exceptional achievements in international para-athletics. He is not only India's first Paralympic medalist but also holds the distinction of being the youngest para-athlete to win a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Kumar's journey from facing personal challenges and feelings of inadequacy to becoming an international sports sensation was influenced by his experience participating in high jump events for able-bodied athletes. His shift to para-athletics, guided by coach Satyapal Singh, proved transformative.

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is also being presented to chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju, shooter Manu Bhaker, and hockey player Harmanpreet Singh. The President of India will preside over the awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17th.