Indian cricket team Vice-Captain Rohit Sharma and four other sportspersons were chosen for the prestigious Khel Ratna award, the highest sporting honour in India. The ministry confirmed the names of wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Rio Paralympics gold-medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu, table tennis player Manika Batra, and women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal, apart from Rohit Sharma for the honour. Meanwhile, they have also named 27 athletes for the Arjuna award. Malayalee Olympian Jincy Philip has named for the Dhyanchand award.

Sports Ministry has announced that the award ceremony for this year would be held virtually on the National Sports Day, August 29. The ministry has taken an unprecedented step in bestowing five sports with the highest sports honour in the country. However, they have pruned the former Khel Ratna winners Sakshi Malik and Mirabai Chanu from the recommended list of 29 athletes.