New Delhi:Indian shooter Gagan Narang, who Pick up four gold medals at last year's Commonwealth Games, is all set to be conferred with the country's highest sporting Award - the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - after being recommended for the honour by the awards selection committee on Friday.
28-year-old rifle shooter, Narang, who was the first Indian marksman to qualify for next year's London Olympics with a bronze in the World Championships last year, had been disgruntled at being "ignored" for the award last year. "Gagan Narang atlast been recommended for the Khel Ratna this year," a source in the awards selection committee told PTI.
Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has been selected for the Arjuna award. The 32-year-old fast bowler, who is currently in England tour for the ongoing Test series, has taken 271 wickets in cricket's longer format at an average of 31.94.
"The recommended names for the Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardees have been sent to the Sports Ministry and it will be oficially announced shortly. after being approved by the Ministry," the source said.
Zaheer has 273 one-day wickets at an average of 28.84. The last time a male cricketer got the Arjuna award was 2009 when Gautam Gambhir was picked for the honour.
The other Arjuna awardees this year include Indian football captain and striker Sunil Chettri, rising tennis star Somdev Devvarman and ace badminton player Jwala Gutta. Somdev had struck a golden double last year by finishing on top in both the Commonwealth and Asian Games singles events.
