How many hockey players had received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award before Hardik Singh's 2025 nomination, and who were they?
- Four — Dhanraj Pillay, Rani Rampal, Sreejesh, Harmanpreet Singh
- Six — Dhanraj Pillay, Sardar Singh, Rani Rampal, Sreejesh, Manpreet, Harmanpreet
- Five — Rani Rampal, Sreejesh, Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet, Salima Tete
- Three — Dhanraj Pillay, Rani Rampal, Harmanpreet Singh
Answer: Six — Dhanraj Pillay (1999-2000), Sardar Singh (2017), Rani Rampal (2020), P.R. Sreejesh (2021), Manpreet Singh (2021), Harmanpreet Singh (2024)
Six hockey players received the Khel Ratna before Hardik Singh's 2025 nomination: Dhanraj Pillay (1999-2000), Sardar Singh (2017), Rani Rampal (2020), P.R. Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh (both 2021, the year India won its first Olympic hockey medal since 1980), and Harmanpreet Singh (2024, Paris bronze). If Hardik Singh is confirmed, hockey will have produced 7 Khel Ratna recipients.