<p class="title">The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Monday recommended recently-crowned Asian Champion Bajrang Punia and last year's Asian Games gold-medallist Vinesh Phogat for the country's highest sporting honour -- the Rajeev Khel Ratna award.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bajrang and Vinesh's names were sent by WFI owing to their remarkable performances in the last couple of years.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They (Bajrang and Vinesh) have been recommended for Khel Ratna by the WFI after both of them submitted their applications," a WFI official confirmed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">World no. 1 Bajrang has recently stamped his authority at the Asian Championship in Xi'an, China by clinching a gold medal in the men's 65kg freestyle event.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, the 25-year-old grappler had bagged the yellow metal at the Jakarta Asian Games too.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Vinesh could only win a bronze at the recent Asian Championship, but considering that she fought in a new weight category of 53kg, it was seen as a good achievement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In 2018, the 24-year-old became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Besides Bajrang and Vinesh, WFI has recommended names of Rahul Aware, Harpreet Singh, Divya Kakran and Pooja Dhanda for the Arjuna award.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dhanda, 25, had claimed a bronze medal at the World Championships last year after a silver to her credit at the Commonwealth Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 21-year-old Kakran ended with a bronze at the Asian Championship. The youngster had a third-place finish both at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Aware was the gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games, while Harpreet Singh won a silver at the Asian Championship on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, Bajrang had cried foul after he was denied the Khel Ratna and instead cricketer Virat Kohli and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu were conferred the top honours.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The WFI has also recommended Virender Kumar, Sujeet Maan, Narendra Kumar and Vikram Kumar for the Dronacharya award, meant for high-performing coaches.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bheem Singh and Jai Prakash's names have been sent for the Dhyanchand award for lifetime achievement. </p>
<p class="title">The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Monday recommended recently-crowned Asian Champion Bajrang Punia and last year's Asian Games gold-medallist Vinesh Phogat for the country's highest sporting honour -- the Rajeev Khel Ratna award.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bajrang and Vinesh's names were sent by WFI owing to their remarkable performances in the last couple of years.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They (Bajrang and Vinesh) have been recommended for Khel Ratna by the WFI after both of them submitted their applications," a WFI official confirmed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">World no. 1 Bajrang has recently stamped his authority at the Asian Championship in Xi'an, China by clinching a gold medal in the men's 65kg freestyle event.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, the 25-year-old grappler had bagged the yellow metal at the Jakarta Asian Games too.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Vinesh could only win a bronze at the recent Asian Championship, but considering that she fought in a new weight category of 53kg, it was seen as a good achievement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In 2018, the 24-year-old became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Besides Bajrang and Vinesh, WFI has recommended names of Rahul Aware, Harpreet Singh, Divya Kakran and Pooja Dhanda for the Arjuna award.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dhanda, 25, had claimed a bronze medal at the World Championships last year after a silver to her credit at the Commonwealth Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 21-year-old Kakran ended with a bronze at the Asian Championship. The youngster had a third-place finish both at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Aware was the gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games, while Harpreet Singh won a silver at the Asian Championship on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, Bajrang had cried foul after he was denied the Khel Ratna and instead cricketer Virat Kohli and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu were conferred the top honours.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The WFI has also recommended Virender Kumar, Sujeet Maan, Narendra Kumar and Vikram Kumar for the Dronacharya award, meant for high-performing coaches.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bheem Singh and Jai Prakash's names have been sent for the Dhyanchand award for lifetime achievement. </p>