Controversy Surrounding D Gukesh’s Inclusion in Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardees List for 2024

The inclusion of reigning world chess champion, D Gukesh, in the list of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardees for 2024 has sparked controversy and surprise among sports enthusiasts. Gukesh, who made history as the youngest-ever world chess champion at just 18 years old, was not expected to be considered for the prestigious award this year due to the timing of his achievement falling outside the awards cycle.

Questions have been raised about the eligibility criteria applied by the government for Gukesh’s Khel Ratna, especially when other medallists from the Paris Olympics and Paralympics were not considered for the top award despite meeting the necessary points criteria. Gukesh’s name was not initially included in the list of winners, which included hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.

Interestingly, Gukesh did not apply for the award himself, nor was his name recommended by the All India Chess Federation. It appears that the ministry invoked a provision allowing them to nominate deserving candidates in certain cases, leading to Gukesh’s inclusion in the list.

The government’s decision to include Gukesh in the Khel Ratna list has been described as an “emotional decision” made at the top level, possibly influenced by political pressure. This move comes after a previous controversy involving Olympic double medallist Manu Bhaker, who was initially left out of the Khel Ratna list due to a filing error.

Despite Gukesh’s impressive achievements in the four-year awards cycle, including team and individual gold medals at the Chess Olympiads, chess is not currently an Olympic sport, leading to confusion over how his accomplishments should be considered for the award.

Overall, Gukesh’s unexpected inclusion in the Khel Ratna list for 2024 has raised eyebrows and sparked debate over the selection process and criteria used by the government. It remains to be seen how this decision will be received by the sports community and whether it will lead to further changes in the future.