Bajrang Punia’s call was finalized with a 12-member selection committee’s aid on the whole day of a two-day meeting. Bajrang had closing yr received the gold medal in the 65-kg freestyle occasion at the Asian Games held in Jakarta. He had also won the gold medal inside the identical class at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. New Delhi: Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia was nominated for you on Friday. S .’s maximum wearing honor — the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, a year after he threatened to move the courtroom for no longer getting his due.

A 12-member selection committee finalized his name on the opening day of the a-day assembly. The panel contains Bhaichung Bhutia and MC Mary Kom, among others, and is headed by Justice (Retd) Mukundakam Sharma. Bajrang has been nominated for the Khel Ratna Award. His name was a unanimous choice,” a source near the development informed PTI. The source also said that the panel might upload another athlete for the top honors on Saturday, except for finalizing the names of the Arjuna and Dronacharya awards.

Bajrang had threatened to move the courtroom after he was snubbed for the Khel Ratna award in the last 12 months, regardless of being a gold medallist in the Asian and Commonwealth Games. On Friday’s nod, Bajrang asserted that he is a meriting award candidate. My process is to educate hard and compete in difficulty. My focus has usually been on my performance and now not awards. But the popularity does come your way when you do well,” Bajrang told PTI from Georgia, wherein he is educating for the World Championships.

I had the achievements to deserve this award. I have even said that awards must go to the most deserving ones. Bajrang had closely won the gold medal in the sixty-five-kg freestyle event at the Asian Games held in Jakarta. He also won the gold medal within the same category at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Besides, he’s a two-time medallist at the world championships, and a strong medal hopes for India at the subsequent year’s Tokyo Olympics.

While Bajrang won a bronze in 60kg in the 2013 World Championships, he bettered his feat remaining year by bagging a silver inside the 65kg class. He welcomed the popularity. However, Bajrang stated he would not recollect it as a motivation for the World Championships to be held from September 14 to 22 at Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. My attention has continually been on making you ready for the big degree; however, yes, reputation makes you happy. It is simply awesome information weeks earlier than the World Championship,” he stated.

I don’t need motivation from doors; I am stimulated to do nicely at the World Championships in Kazakhstan. It (the award) does not make any difference to my arrangements. My focus is putting on a pleasant overall performance, and it’ll remain. Bajrang is only the fourth wrestler to be finalized for the Khel Ratna award after Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, and Sakshi Malik. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is your very best honor. It comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs 7.Five lakh. It is part of the National Sports Awards bestowed on National Sports Day by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.