Chess World Champion is all set to make history after being selected for Khel Ratne Award on Thursday. At just 18 years, 7 months, and 20 days, will break the record currently held by Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, who received the award at the age of 19 years, 11 months, and 2 days. Bindra had won gold for India in shooting during 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Gukesh thanks PM Modi for Khel Ratna award
After being selected for the prestigious Khel Ratna award, Guikesh took to social media and thanked PM Modi and sports minister Mansukh Mandviya for their support.
He wrote, "Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, I am truly grateful and feel humbled to receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Your words and guidance have always inspired me to strive for excellence and make the nation proud. I promise to continue delivering my best moves on 64 squares and outside of it. Thank you Hon. Sports Minister @mansukhmandviya Ji for your constant support."
D Gukesh's chess accomplishments
Gukesh won the World Chess Championship last month beating Ding Liren in the 14th round in Singapore on Thursday. The Chennai resident broke the previous record set by the legendary Garry Kasparov, who was just 22 when he beat then-champion Anatoly Karpov in 1985 to become world champion.
Gukesh also broke the record of becoming the youngest-ever winner of the FIDE Candidates tournament in April. He topped the points table with nine points in the eight-player competition, becoming only the second Indian to qualify for a World Championship final after five-time World champion and his mentor Viswanathan Anand.
He also became the youngest player to beat Magnus Carlsen at the Aim Chess Rapid tournament, since the Norwegian became World Champion. Carrying the momentum into 2023, Gukesh became the youngest-ever player to reach a rating of 2750. He soon surpassed Viswanathan Anand as the top-ranked Indian player for the first time in 37 years.
