Arjuna awards for Saketh Myneni and Jyoti Surekha Vennam

New Delhi: Devendra Jhajharia on Thursday became the first paralympian to be recommended for India’s highest sporting honour — the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna — along with celebrated former hockey captain Sardar Singh. Javelin thrower Jhajharia, the first Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals, was the first choice of the awards selection committee headed by Justice (Retd) C. K. Thakkar.

The committee has picked 31-year-old midfielder Sardar as its second nominee for the top honour and has suggested that both Jhajharia and Sardar be considered for the award jointly. The 36-year-old Jhajharia’s two gold medals came in the 2004 Athens Games and last year’s Rio Paralympics and he set new world records on both the occasions. He also won a gold medal at the 2013 World Championships.

Sardar, on the other hand, has been a constant in India’s fast-improving standing in international hockey. There was good news for Andhra Pradesh as tennis player Saketh Myneni and archer Jyoti Surekha Vennam made the Arjuna Awards list that comprises 17 sportspersons. Saketh is currently ranked World No.438 and is playing at an ATP Challenger Tour event in China.

The 29-year-old was born in Vuyyuru town in Krishna district but grew up in Vizag. On the other hand, 20-year-old Surekha has represented India in many national and international events across the world. Her father Surendra was understandably overjoyed. “My daughter has made our family and the city proud,” he said in Vijayawada. The Arjuna awardees list includes male cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara and women’s team World Cup star Harmanpreet Kaur, Paralympic medallists Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Bhati, golfer SSP Chawrasia and hockey player S. V. Sunil.

Mariyappan had won the men’s high jump (F46) gold medal at the Rio Olympics. Bhati, on the other hand, had claimed a silver in the same event. Golfer Chawrasia had won back-to-back Indian Open titles in 2016 and this year.