India’s star wrestler Vinesh Phogat is amongst the four athletes recommended for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2020. It is India’s highest sporting honour given to a sportsperson. Besides her, Mumbai Indian’s captain Rohit Sharma, Table Tennis champion Manika Batra, and Paralympic gold medallist Mariappan Thangavelu have been recommended.
The decision comes after the selection panel met on Tuesday for deciding the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and other national sports awards.
National Sports Day to be held virtually
The awards will be given on the National Sports Day which is celebrated on August 29, the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand. For the first time, the award will be held virtually due to covid-19
“The sports awards function this year is likely to be an online function. As per the Government of India instructions, the awardees will also be announced on the morning of the day of the function,” a Sports Ministry source told PTI.
The pandemic had in June forced the ministry to extend the deadline for submission of online applications for the awards.
It also allowed athletes to self-nominate in view of the “difficulties” being faced by them in finding people who can recommend their names amid the lockdown.
The self-nomination has resulted in a huge number of applicants for the awards and it has been learnt that the ministry had already finished the initial round of screening.
The National Sports Awards include the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award and the Dhyan Chand Award, which are conferred every year by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 29 August.