Assam: Ace-Boxer Lovlina Borgohain recommended for Khel Ratna

GUWAHATI: India's inspiring show at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics reflected in an unprecedented 11 recommendations for the Khel Ratna award. Assam’s pride Lovlina Borgohain’s name has been recommended for Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2021.

Boxer Lovlina dedicated the recommendation for the country's highest sporting honour to her parents.

The list of recommended players also includes champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.

Apart from 23-year-old Chopra, who became only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold, silver medal-winning wrestler Ravi Dahiya, woman boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who won a bronze, were recommended for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, country's highest sporting honour.

Seasoned hockey goalkeeper PRSreejesh and women's cricket team Test and ODI captain Mithali Raj were selected along with iconic Sunil Chhetri, who is set to become country's first footballer to receive the honour.

All five gold medallists from the Tokyo Paralympics -- Avani Lekhara (shooting), Manish Narwal (shooting), Sumit Antil (athletics), Pramod Bhagat (badminton) and Krishna Nagar (badminton) -- were also rewarded for their performance as they also made the cut in the list which will now be sent to the Sports Ministry for approval.

India sent its biggest contingent to the Tokyo Olympics with as many as 121 athletes presenting their challenge and the country achieved its best ever show by winning seven medals, including one gold, two silver and four bronze.

Three of those medallists, wrestler Bajrang Punia, shuttler PV Sindhu and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu have already won the Khel Ratna award.

At the Paralympics, India returned with 19 medals, including five gold, eight silver and six bronze medals.

The Khel Ratna award carries a prize purse of Rs 25 lakh and a citation, while the Arjuna award winners will get Rs 15 lakh each and a citation.

Prior to 2020, the prize purse of Khel Ratna was Rs 7.5 lakh, while Arjuna award was Rs 5 lakh.