The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has announced that Praveen Kumar, a highly skilled Indian para-athlete, will be honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award this year. Kumar will share the prestigious recognition with other celebrated athletes, including World Chess Champion D Gukesh, Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh, and double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker.

Praveen Kumar's Inspiring Journey

Hailing from Govindgarh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Praveen Kumar was born with a shorter leg, which initially caused feelings of inadequacy. However, his journey took a positive turn when he immersed himself in sports, initially playing volleyball before discovering his talent in high jump. Participating in an able-bodied athletics competition marked a turning point, introducing him to opportunities for para-athletes.

Guided by Dr. Satyapal Singh, a para-athletics coach who identified his potential, Praveen transitioned to high jump, a decision that paved the way for his exceptional achievements.

Notable Achievements

Praveen Kumar has an impressive list of accomplishments:

• Gold in the Men’s High Jump T64 event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
• Silver in the T64 category at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
• Gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games, setting an Asian record with a 2.05m jump.
• Silver at the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championship.
• Gold with an Asian record at the 2021 World Para Athletics FAZZA Grand Prix.

The Khel Ratna recognizes Kumar's relentless dedication and perseverance. He will receive the honor on January 17, 2025, at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.