Kalayathumkuzhi Mathews Beenamol, popularly known as K. M. Beenamol, from Kombidinjal, Idukki district, Kerala is an international athlete from India.
Beenamol handing over the Queen's Baton to the Chief Minister of Kerala in 2010
The Khel Ratna Award, officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, is the highest sporting honour of India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
The first recipient of the award Viswanathan Anand is the country's first chess Grandmaster and a five-time winner of World Chess Championship.
Pankaj Advani is the only sportsperson to have won the award for two sports disciplines: billiards and snooker.
Most recent recipients (2023): Chirag Shetty (left) & Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (right).