Bajrang Punia, Deepa Malik nominated for Khel Ratna award, Arjuna Award for Ravindra Jadeja

New Delhi: Paralympics silver medalist Deepa Malik was nominated for the country’s highest sporting honour - the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

Malik is the first Indian woman to earn a medal at the Paralympic Games and has won 58 national and 23 international medals. She is also a recipient of the Padma Shri and Arjuna award. Moreover, she has entered the Limca Book of World Records four times.

Along with Deepa, Ace Indian wrestler and Asian and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia has also been appointed for the Khel Ratna award.

Recently, Punia defended his title at the Tbilisi Grand Prix as he won the gold medal by defeating Iran’s Peiman Bibyani in the 65kg final of the men’s free style competition.

Bajrang also marked his authority in the Asian circuit by winning the Asian Wrestling Championships in Xi’an, China , earlier this year.

Meanwhile, India cricketer Ravindra Jadeja has been nominated for the Arjuna Award and he is one of the 19 sportspersons who have been nominated for this prestigious award.

Jadeja, has played 156 ODIs, 42 T20Is and 41 Tests for India and has scored 2128, 135 and 1485 runs in three formats respectively. He has also scalped 178 wickets in ODIs, 192 inTests and 32 in T20Is for Team India.

Last year, Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu were awarded with the Khel Ratna Award. (UNI)