The Tamil Nadu government has recommended star squash player Dipika Pallikal for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour. Pallikal has been recommended by Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), the sports arm of the state government.
The 23-year-old is the first Indian to break into the top 10 of world rankings. She was world no. 11 when her application was sent to the sports ministry and is no. 18 as per the latest Women’s Squash Association rankings.
Performances of last four years will be taken into consideration before the recipient of the coveted award is picked. The Chennai-born player was honoured with the Arjuna award in 2012 and Padma Shri in 2014.
Others in the race for Khel Ratna are Sardar Singh (hockey), PV Sindhu (badminton), Jeev Milkha Singh (golf), Devendra Jhajariya (Paralympics), Girisha Hosanagara (Paralympics) besides discus throwers Vikas Gowda and Seema Punia.
Subrata in for Arjuna
Climax lawrence, Mahesh Gawli, Subrata Paul and Oinam Bembem Devi have been recommended by the AIFF for the Arjuna Awards.
The 36-year-old lawrence led the country during a decade-long career that started in 2002. lawrence played for Dempo in the national league and now plays for Mumbai FC.
Gawli, a stopper, once held the distinction of being the highest paid Indian footballer in the league. He began his international career in 1999 and played a key role till he called it quits in 2011.
Playing international football since 2007, 28-year-old Paul is India’s number one goalkeeper and has had a stint at Danish club FC Vestsjælland.
The 35-year-old Bembem Devi plays for the Indian women’s team and has been a regular with Manipur.
Babita, Amit, Bajrang recommended by WFI
Grapplers Babita Kumari, Amit Kumar Dahiya and Bajrang have been recommended by the Wrestling Federation of India for this year’s Arjuna Award.
Babita Kumari won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year but lost out on a third-place finish at the Incheon Asian Games.
In 2013, Amit bagged the silver medal at World Wrestling Championships, while last year, he won the yellow metal in the Commonwealth Games in Men’s 57kg Freestyle.
Bajrang competes in the 61kg Freestyle category and had claimed a silver medal in Glasgow last year.