Major Dhyan Chand — Set 2

Correct Answer: C. Jyotirmoyee Sikdar

• **Jyotirmoyee Sikdar** = This female athlete, known for her track and field achievements, was awarded the Khel Ratna. • **1998-99** — Jyotirmoyee Sikdar received the Khel Ratna during this period, following her double gold medal win at the **1998** Asian Games. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [P.T. Usha]: A legendary track and field athlete, but she did not receive the Khel Ratna in this specific year; [K.M. Beenamol]: A prominent athlete, she received the Khel Ratna later in 2002; [Anju Bobby George]: A celebrated long jumper, she received the Khel Ratna in 2003.

Correct Answer: D. Cuesports

• **Cuesports** = Pankaj Advani has won the Khel Ratna for his achievements in Billiards and Snooker, which fall under this category. • **2006** — Pankaj Advani was awarded the Khel Ratna in this year for his unprecedented success in international competitions, where he has won over **25** world titles. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Golf]: Pankaj Advani is not a professional golfer; [Wrestling]: This is a contact sport, completely different from Advani's discipline; [Archery]: This is a target sport, not associated with Pankaj Advani.

Correct Answer: C. Vijender Singh

• **Vijender Singh** = He became the first Indian boxer to win the Khel Ratna award. • **2009** — Vijender Singh received the Khel Ratna in this year, following his historic bronze medal at the **2008** Olympics. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mary Kom]: An iconic female boxer, she received the award in 2009 alongside Vijender Singh, but he was the first male boxer; [Dingko Singh]: A talented boxer who won Asian Games gold, but he did not receive the Khel Ratna in 2009; [Shiva Thapa]: A younger generation boxer, he has not yet received the Khel Ratna.

Correct Answer: A. Pullela Gopichand

• **Pullela Gopichand** = He was the first badminton player to receive the Khel Ratna award. • **2000-01** — Pullela Gopichand won the Khel Ratna in this period, following his victory at the prestigious All England Open. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Saina Nehwal]: A prominent badminton player, she received the Khel Ratna later in 2010; [P.V. Sindhu]: An Olympic medalist, she received the award in 2016; [Prakash Padukone]: A legendary badminton player, he was awarded the Arjuna Award, but not the Khel Ratna.

Correct Answer: A. Neeraj Chopra

• **Neeraj Chopra** = He received the Khel Ratna for his historic gold medal in javelin throw. • **2021** — Neeraj Chopra was honored with the Khel Ratna in this year after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics with his **87.58m** throw. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Sandeep Chaudhary]: A para-athlete in javelin throw, not the recipient for the Olympic gold in 2021; [Sumit Antil]: A para-athlete in javelin throw, he also won gold at Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, but the question refers to the general Olympics; [Devendra Jhajharia]: A decorated para-athlete in javelin throw, he received the Khel Ratna in 2017.

Correct Answer: D. Yogeshwar Dutt

• **Yogeshwar Dutt** = He was jointly awarded the Khel Ratna in 2012 for his bronze medal performance at the London Olympics. • **2012** — This was the year he won a bronze medal in wrestling at the London Olympics. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Sushil Kumar]: received the Khel Ratna in 2009; [Ravi Dahiya]: awarded the Khel Ratna in 2021; [Bajrang Punia]: received the Khel Ratna in 2019.

Correct Answer: C. Tennis

• **Tennis** = Sania Mirza, India's most successful female tennis player, received the Khel Ratna award. • **2015** — This was the year she was conferred with the Khel Ratna for her outstanding achievements in tennis. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Badminton]: associated with players like P.V. Sindhu; [Table Tennis]: associated with players like Manika Batra; [Squash]: a different racket sport, not associated with Sania Mirza's Khel Ratna.

Correct Answer: A. Dipa Karmakar

• **Dipa Karmakar** = She is the first Indian female gymnast to receive the Khel Ratna award. • **2016** — She was awarded the Khel Ratna in this year for her historic fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Pranati Nayak]: another Indian gymnast, but not the first to receive Khel Ratna; [Aruna Reddy]: an Indian gymnast known for World Cup medal, but not a Khel Ratna recipient; [Ruthuja Nataraj]: an Indian gymnast, but not a Khel Ratna recipient.

Correct Answer: C. Mithali Raj

• **Mithali Raj** = She became the first female cricketer to receive the Khel Ratna award. • **2021** — She was honored with the Khel Ratna in this year for her unparalleled contributions to Indian women's cricket. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Harmanpreet Kaur]: a prominent Indian cricketer, but received Arjuna Award; [Smriti Mandhana]: another key Indian cricketer, also an Arjuna Award recipient; [Jhulan Goswami]: a legendary Indian pacer, but not the first female cricketer Khel Ratna recipient.

Correct Answer: C. Football

• **Football** = Sunil Chhetri, captain of the Indian national football team, was awarded the Khel Ratna. • **2021** — He received the Khel Ratna in this year, becoming the first footballer to be honored with this award. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Hockey]: associated with players like Rani Rampal; [Kabaddi]: a team sport, but not Sunil Chhetri's discipline; [Wrestling]: associated with players like Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia.