Hardik Singh Receives Nomination for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2025

Post by : Mina Rahman

Indian men's hockey team vice-captain and two-time Olympic medalist Hardik Singh has been nominated for the esteemed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2025. This recognition reflects his outstanding performance on the global hockey stage.

Interestingly, this nomination underscores a remarkable pattern: for the second year in a row, no cricketer has been recognized for India's highest sporting award. Last year, pace bowler Mohammed Shami received the Arjuna Award, but the current Khel Ratna shortlist does not include any cricketers.

The finalized nominations were announced on Wednesday by a prominent panel that included Gagan Narang, vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), M.M. Somaya, gold medalist at the Moscow 1980 Olympics, and former badminton player Aparna Popat.

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is regarded as the pinnacle of sports honors in India, conferred annually by the President of India via the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, celebrating excellence in Indian athletics.

Since making his international debut in 2018, Hardik Singh has been essential to the Indian men's hockey squad, playing crucial roles in India’s bronze medal wins at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. Historical records show only six hockey players have previously received the Khel Ratna, including legends like Dhanraj Pillay and Sardar Singh.

At just 27, Hardik has already achieved significant milestones with 164 international matches under his belt. He was awarded the Hockey India Player of the Year honors in both 2022 and 2023 and was recognized as the FIH Player of the Year in 2023, also receiving the Arjuna Award in 2021.

His extraordinary talents have contributed to India’s recent sports successes, including clinching gold at the Asia Cup 2025, which has qualified India for the forthcoming Hockey World Cup, plus triumphs in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 and the Asian Games.

Past Khel Ratna recipients include Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey squad, two-time Paris Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, chess sensation D. Gukesh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.

In adjacent news, yogasana athlete Aarti Pal has made history by being nominated for the Arjuna Award, recognizing the first yogasana athlete to achieve such an honor. A reigning national and Asian champion, Pal will compete in a discipline set for demonstration at next year's Asian Games in Japan.

Expect further announcements for the Dronacharya Award and Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award nominees in the upcoming weeks, completing this year's distinguished honors in Indian sports.