Punia nominated for Khel Ratna award, says he deserved it

New Delhi: Asian and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia was on Friday nominated for the country's highest sporting honour — the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, a year after he threatened to move court for not getting his due.

His name was finalised by a 12-member selection committee on the opening day of a two-day meeting. The panel comprises the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia and M C 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 close to the development said. The source also said that the panel may add another athlete for the top honours on Saturday besides finalising the names for the Arjuna and Dronacharya awards. Bajrang had threatened to move court after he was snubbed for the Khel Ratna award last year despite being a gold-medallist in both the Asian and CWG.