<p>Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who became only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games, and silver medal-winning wrestler Ravi Dahiya were on Wednesday recommended for the Khel Ratna as an unprecedented 11 athletes were selected for the country's highest sporting honour.</p>.<p>Boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who won a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, seasoned hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and woman cricket Test skipper Mithali Raj were also recommended for the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna by the selection committee.</p>.<p>Iconic Sunil Chhetri also became the country's first footballer to be selected for the honour.</p>.<p>Last year, five athletes were picked for the award while four were selected after the 2016 Rio Games.</p>.<p>The announcement of the national sports awards was delayed in order to consider the performance of the para-athletes in the Tokyo Paralympics (August 24 to September 5).</p>.<p>Shooter Avani Lekhara and Manish Narwal, javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shuttlers Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar, who all have won a gold each in the Tokyo Paralympics, completed the list of those recommended for the Khel Ratna.</p>.<p>The committee also picked 35 athletes for the Arjuna award, eight more than last year's number of awardees.</p>.<p>Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, para TT player Bhavina Patel, para shuttler Suhas Yathiraj and high jumper Nishad Kumar are among those selected for the Arjuna award.</p>.<p>Members of the men's hockey team that won a historic bronze in the Olympics will also receive Arjuna award.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
<p>Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who became only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games, and silver medal-winning wrestler Ravi Dahiya were on Wednesday recommended for the Khel Ratna as an unprecedented 11 athletes were selected for the country's highest sporting honour.</p>.<p>Boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who won a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, seasoned hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and woman cricket Test skipper Mithali Raj were also recommended for the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna by the selection committee.</p>.<p>Iconic Sunil Chhetri also became the country's first footballer to be selected for the honour.</p>.<p>Last year, five athletes were picked for the award while four were selected after the 2016 Rio Games.</p>.<p>The announcement of the national sports awards was delayed in order to consider the performance of the para-athletes in the Tokyo Paralympics (August 24 to September 5).</p>.<p>Shooter Avani Lekhara and Manish Narwal, javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shuttlers Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar, who all have won a gold each in the Tokyo Paralympics, completed the list of those recommended for the Khel Ratna.</p>.<p>The committee also picked 35 athletes for the Arjuna award, eight more than last year's number of awardees.</p>.<p>Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, para TT player Bhavina Patel, para shuttler Suhas Yathiraj and high jumper Nishad Kumar are among those selected for the Arjuna award.</p>.<p>Members of the men's hockey team that won a historic bronze in the Olympics will also receive Arjuna award.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>