Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: BCCI to recommend R Ashwin, Mithali Raj; Sunil Chhetri nominated

Ravichandran Ashwin. Pic/PTI

The BCCI has decided to recommend women's cricket great Mithali Raj and premier spinner R Ashwin for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, country's highest sporting honour.

For the Arjuna Award, the Board will send the names of senior batsman Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and pacer Jasprit Bumrah. "No women cricketer has been nominated for Arjuna. Mithali's name has been recommended for Khel Ratna," a BCCI official said. It remains to be seen if Mithali is chosen by the Sports Ministry-appointed panel in an Olympic year.

AFI proposes Neeraj Chopra

Meanwhile, Olympic-bound star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been recommended for the Khel Ratna award by the Athletics Federation of India. Chopra's nomination came after sprinter Dutee Chand was recommended for the same top award by the Odisha government. This is the fourth time Chopra is being recommended for the Khel Ratna since 2018.

Kamal recommended

India's finest table tennis player Sharath Kamal has been recommended for Khel Ratna award by the sport's governing body TTFI. Kamal, who is set to compete in his fourth Olympics, had become the first Indian paddler to get the Padma Shri in 2019.

Talismanic India captain Sunil Chhetri has been recommended for the Khel Ratna award by the All India Football Federation. National women's football team striker Bala Devi, who is currently playing for Rangers in the Scottish Women's Premier League, has been recommended for the coveted Arjuna Award.

Also Read: Great achievement to host T20 World Cup: Oman Cricket boss Pankaj Khimji

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever