Khel Ratna 2021: BCCI, AIFF, AFI, TTFI & FMSCI recommended athletes for national honour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to recommend women’s cricket ace Mithali Raj and men’s premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the country’s highest sporting honour.

For the Arjuna Award, BCCI will send the names of opening batsmen Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and pacer Jasprit Bumrah. 

Photo Credit: Mithali Raj / Instagram

“No female cricket player has been nominated for Arjuna. Mithali’s name has been recommended to Khel Ratna,” a BCCI official said. 

It remains to be seen whether Mithali will be selected by a panel appointed by the Ministry of Sports in the Olympic year.

All India Football Federation (AIFF) nominated Sunil Chhetri

Photo Credit: Indian Football Team / Twitter

Talismanic Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has been recommended by the All India Football Federation for the Khel Ratna award. In addition, Indian women’s football team striker Bala Devi, who is currently playing for the Rangers club of the Scottish Women’s Premier League, has been nominated for the coveted Arjuna Award. 

Athletics Federation of India (AFI) proposed Neeraj Chopra 

Photo Credit: Neeraj Chopra / Twitter

The AFI has been recommended the Olympic-bound star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra for the Khel Ratna award. Chopra’s nomination came after the Odisha government recommended sprinter Dutee Chand for the same top award. This is the fourth time Chopra has been recommended for Khel Ratna since 2018.

Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) recommended Sharath Kamal 

 Photo Credit: Sharath Kamal / Twitter

India’s veteran table tennis player Sharath Kamal has been recommended for the Khel Ratna award by the sport’s governing body Table Tennis Federation of India. Kamal, who is preparing to participate in the 4th Olympic Games, had become the first Indian paddler to bag the Padma Shri in 2019.

Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) named Musa Sherif

Photo Credit: Musa Sherif / Twitter

The famous Indian motorsports celebrity Musa Sherif has been nominated by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) for the coveted Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.

Musa from Kasargod, Kerala, is India’s most successful co-driver and has won seven national championships with Gaurav Gill. Gaurav is the recipient of the Arjuna Award, and he is the only person in the motorsport world to receive this prestigious honour.