Those whose names were mentioned during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann ki Baat radio broadcast, swacchagrahi or foot soldiers who have played a key role in cleanliness drives and women sarpanches (village heads) are also part of the list shared by the Union ministry of home affairs to be invited for the function.
Hollywood's top gun Tom Cruise rappelled from the roof of the Stade de France into the Paris Games closing ceremony on Sunday before speeding off with the Olympic flag in a dramatic handover that began the countdown to the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
On the highest step of the Olympic podium, US basketball player Brittney Griner wept, tears trickling down her face as her country's national anthem serenaded her for a gold medal she could not have imagined winning while in a Russian prison.
What is it like watching all the Olympian action and drama unfold from the spectators' galleries at the Stade de France?
Images from the US Open men's singles second round matches, at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Wednesday.
New Zealand's Hamish Kerr won gold in the men's Olympic high jump on Saturday with a best effort of 2.36 metres after a long and gruelling final, securing his country's first medal in the event.
The hearing on the matter concluded in Paris on Friday after it accepted Vinesh's appeal against her ouster for being 100gm overweight on the morning of her final against eventual gold-winner Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of USA.
Ahmed Elgendy took Egypt's first gold medal of the Paris Olympics when he won the men's Modern Pentathlon with a world record 1,555 points, despite slowing at the end, in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles on Saturday.
Two goals from Luis Diaz and one from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool stroll to a 3-0 victory at Manchester United.
France and the Netherlands are level on four points at the top of the group standings, with Austria on three, while Poland have no points and cannot advance to the last 16.
Earlier, Reetika displayed power and skill in equal measure while outclassing Hungarian Bernadett Nagy to enter the quarter-final of the women's 76 kg freestyle event on Saturday.
A clumsy handover of the baton in the 4x100 metres men's final at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday, August 9, 2024, evening saw the US men's 4x100 relay team lose its chance to race past its rivals and win a gold/silver/bronze medal.
Horse riding, bharatnatyam and skating on Manu's mind during break from shooting
The only time cricket featured in the Olympics was in 1900 with two teams -- Great Britain and France -- with the former winning the gold medal.
Netherlands' Hassan grinds out thrilling marathon gold in sprint finish
Angry Young Men misses some important elements of the Salim-Javed story including an understanding of the duo's creative process. In fact, the two men do not even appear together in the same space in the series.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the US Open played Flushing Meadows, New York, United States, on Monday.
How India's athletes fared at the Paris Paralympic Games on Friday.
29-year-old Avinash Sable clocked 8 minutes 14.18 seconds after leading briefly in a dramatic race.
There was no "Miracle on the Seine" at the Paris Olympics on Saturday as the United States men's basketball team did as expected by grinding out a 98-87 win over France to claim a fifth consecutive gold medal.
On Monday, the Indian women's team comprising Manika, Sreeja and Archana had prevailed over higher-ranked Romania 3-2 in a thrilling tie to enter the quarter-finals.
The United States continued their dominance of the Olympic 4x400 metres relay on Saturday but only just, as Rai Benjamin held off Botswana's Letsile Tebogo in a thrilling last-leg battle between two individual gold medallists.
With France facing political turmoil, Mbappe used the pre-match press conference to address the nation. He called the situation "dire" and urged young people to fight against extremism gaining power.
After 'Golden Boy' Neeraj Chopra qualified for the men's javelin event final at the ongoing Paris Olympics, an air of celebration and jubilation erupted in his household.
From China's world number one Shi Yuqi's surprising loss to Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, to Malaysia's women's doubles team's brave bid for a medal, badminton at the Paris Olympics was characterised by upsets, plucky underdogs and, ultimately, reminders that some top seeds are there for a reason.
Veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal showed resistance but India suffered a 0-3 loss to mighty China in the pre-quarterfinals, at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
He is the first athlete to retain the pole vault title in nearly seven decades.
Images from the US Open women's singles second round matches, at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Wednesday.
India's Avinash Sable qualified for the men's 3000m Steeplechase final, finishing fifth in his heat with a time of 8:15.43 seconds.
2008 Olympic gold medallist shooter, Abhinav Bindra took to his official X handle and thanked Neeraj for inspiring every Indian to dream big.
If CAS rules in Vinesh's favour, she will be awarded a joint-silver in the women's 50kg freestyle category.
Lyles and Hassan bookend fabulous Paris programme
The Indian badminton team returned empty-handed from the Olympics for the first time in over a decade.
They lost 43-44 to China's Jianlin Lyu and Yiting Jiang to finish in 4th spot.
Check out how India's athletes fared on Day 13, Thursday, August 8.
Defending champion Neeraj Chopra signed off with a silver medal in the Olympics men's Javelin Throw in Paris on Thursday. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem was a class above the field, setting a new Games record of 92.97 metres for the gold medal.
Letsile Tebogo became the first African to win the men's Olympic 200 metres title on Thursday when he powered clear of American duo Kenny Bednarek and a COVID-hit Noah Lyles to claim Botswana's first Olympic gold medal.
Laura Lindemann won a thrilling sprint finish to give Germany gold in the Olympic triathlon mixed relay on Monday.
The gigantic Stade de France resembled a concert hall hosting a party to celebrate the fortnight of sporting excellence as the breathtaking Closing Ceremony of the Paris Olympics kicked-off with athletes marching into the iconic stadium to thunderous applause in Paris on Sunday.
Noah Lyles is the new Olympic 100m champion!
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