Odisha’s Paralympic Gold Medalist Pramod Bhagat Among 11 Named For Khel Ratna Award

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Paralympic gold medalist Pramod Bhagat is among the 11 athletes named for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award recommended by the National Sports Awards Committee on Wednesday.

Bhagat of Attabira in Bargarh district became India’s first-ever para-badminton gold medallist in the Paralympics when he defeated Great Britain’s Daniel Bathell 21-14, 21-17 in two straight in the Men’s Singles SL3 final in Tokyo on September 4.

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Bhagat has been named along with Paralympian Avani Lekhara, who had become the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Paralympics.

India’s golden boy in javelin Neeraj Chopra, who bagged a historic gold medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 besides other Olympic medal winners – Ravi Dahiya, PR Sreejesh and Lovlina Borgohai have also been listed for the top honour.

Sunil Chhetri too has been recommended for the top honour making him the first Indian footballer to be recommended for India’s highest sporting honour.

Veteran Indian women’s cricketer Mithali Raj was also named for the top honour.

The committee also recommended 35 Indian athletes for the Arjuna Award. Here is a list of 11 Indian athletes who have been recommended for the Khel Ratna Award:

Neeraj Chopra (Athletics)
Ravi Dahiya (Wrestling)
PR Sreejesh (Hockey)
Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing)
Sunil Chhetri (Football)
Mithali Raj (Cricket)
Pramod Bhagat (Badminton)
Sumit Antil (Javelin)
Avani Lekhara (Shooting)
Krishna Nagar (Badminton)
M Narwal (Shooting)