Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh and two-time Paralympic Games Gold medallist Devendra Jhajharia were on Thursday recommended for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award - the country's highest honour for sportspersons. Jhajharia is the first paralympian to be recommended for the prestigious award.
Meanwhile, cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara and Harmanpreet Kaur, Paralympic Games medallists Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Bhati, golfer SSP Chawrasia and hockey player S V Sunil were named in the list of 17 Arjuna Awardees for this year.
The 36-year-old Jhajharia, who is the first Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals, was the first choice of the awards selection committee headed by Justice (Retd) C K Thakkar. Jhajharia had won his medals in the javelin throw event.
The committee has picked 31-year-old midfielder Sardar as its second nominee for the top honour and has suggested that both Jhajharia and Sardar be considered for the award jointly.
The final call on this would be taken by the Sports Ministry.
