New Delhi: Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who at Tokyo 2020 became only the second Indian ever to win an individual Olympic gold medal, silver medal-winning wrestler Ravi Dahiya, and Paralympic Games gold medallists were on Wednesday recommended for the Khel Ratna.
An unprecedented 11 athletes were selected for the country’s highest sporting honour.
Boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who won a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, seasoned hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and Indian cricket team captain Mithali Raj were also recommended for the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna by the selection committee.
India captain Sunil Chhetri also became the country’s first footballer to be selected for the honour.
Shooters Avani Lekhara and Manish Narwal, javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shuttlers Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar, who all have won a gold each in the Tokyo Paralympics, completed the list of those recommended for the Khel Ratna.
Last year, five athletes were picked for the award while four were selected after the 2016 Rio Games.
The announcement of the national sports awards was delayed in order to consider the performance of the para-athletes in the Tokyo Paralympics (August 24 to September 5).
The committee also picked 35 athletes for the Arjuna award, eight more than last year’s number of awardees.
Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, para TT player Bhavina Patel, para shuttler Suhas Yathiraj and high jumper Nishad Kumar are among those selected for the Arjuna award. Members of the men’s hockey team that won a historic bronze in the Olympics will also receive Arjuna award.
