Pistol shooter Jitu Rai and gymnast Dipa Karmakar have been recommended for this year’s Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. The committee has also left a window for prospective medal winners in the Rio Olympics to be included in the Khel Ratna scheme. Rai, who could only make the final in the 10m air pistol in Rio, was nominated for the highest sporting award as his nomination had the highest weightage. Jitu Rai reacts during the men's 50m pistol qualifying round at the Summer Olympic 2016 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (PTI)In all there were 10 names in the fray for Khel Ratna --- Tintu Luka, Anirban Lahiri, Vikas Gowda, Mithali Raj, Deepika Pallikal and Gopi Naidu had also applied.

Source: Hindustan Times August 17, 2016 15:56 UTC