BCCI to nominate Dravid for Khel Ratna, Yuvi for Arjuna awards

Monday, 9 July 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

After the Sports Ministry provided the BCCI with an extension for nominating cricketers for the government issued sports awards, they have now decided to recommend Rahul Dravid for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Yuvraj Singh for an Arjuna Award.

The deadline for nominations was extended to 20 July after the BCCI objected claiming they were not sent the nomination forms. BCCI’s Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty told news agency PTI that they would be forwarding the nominations of Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh to the government next week. Rahul Dravid retired from international cricket in March this year after 16 glorious years in the sport where he accumulated over 24,000 runs and has been universally acknowledged as an ideal role model for the game’s followers.

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna is India’s highest honour given for achievement in sports. It was instituted in 1991-92 and so far 20 sportspersons have been bestowed with the award. Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are the cricketers who are part of this list. Yuvraj Singh was the Player of the tournament in India’s ICC Cricket World Cup winning campaign last year, following which he battled a rare form of cancer that affected the area between his lungs. He is currently recuperating and looking forward to making a comeback into the Indian cricket team.

Yuvraj reacted to news of his nomination by saying that it was an honour. “This is the second time that my name has been nominated and I hope that I am lucky enough to get it,” said Yuvraj.