Wrestlers Bajrang, Vinesh in race for Khel Ratna award after 'golden' 2018

Champion wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat are in contention for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the country's highest sporting honour, after notching up gold medals in this year's Commonwealth Games and the ongoing Asian Games.

It has been learnt that Bajrang has already filed his nomination through the Wrestling Federation of India, Vinesh is likely to be considered by the Sports Ministry, a source in the Wrestling Federation of India tod PTI.

Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is set to analyse the Indian athletes' performance in the Asian Games in the first week of September. The Ministry is then likely make its recommendations for the National Sports Awards to the selection committee, which will be finalised in the next few days.

Every year, the National Sports Awards ceremony is held on August 29 at the Rashtrapati Bhawan to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand as the National Sports Day.

But in a departure from tradition, the this year's ceremony has been shifted to September 25 to avoid a clash of dates with the ongoing Asian Games and ensure maximum participation of athletes.

"Bajrang has filled his form for the Khel Ratna Award through the federation and he is a deserving candidate for the award after his brilliant performances in CWG and Asiad. We don't know whether Vinesh has filled the form on her own or not but she can be considered by the Ministry," a WFI official told PTI.

"Both Bajrang and Vinesh are strong contenders for the Khel Ratna Award and it won't be surprise for us if both win."