Wrestling Federation of India recommends Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat for Rajeev Khel Ratna Award

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has recommended wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia for India's the highest sporting honour, Rajeev Khel Ratna Award. 

Bajrang and Vinesh's names were sent by WFI owing to their remarkable performances in the last couple of years. 

"They (Bajrang and Vinesh) have been recommended for Khel Ratna by the WFI after both of them submitted their applications," a WFI official confirmed. 

Besides, WFI has also recommended Rahul Aware, Harpreet Singh, Divya Kakran and Pooja Dhanda for Arjuna award. 

India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports gives the Arjuna Awards to recognize outstanding achievement in sports. 

WFI also recommended Virender Kumar, Sujeet Maan, Narendra Kumar & Vikram Kumar for Dronacharya award, which is a sports coaching honour, given for the outstanding coaches in sports and games. 

Punia has eight gold medals from his previous nine international tournaments including last year's Commonwealth and Asian Games. 

Asian champion Bajrang Punia is to become the first Indian wrestler to fight at New York's iconic Madison Square Garden. 

Punia, who won the 65kg men's freestyle gold at the recent Asian championships, will be among top wrestlers selected by the American governing body for the May 6 tournament. 

The 25-year-old will take on two-time US national champion Yianni Diakomahlis in the "Grapple at the Garden" Beat the Streets event which since 2010 has become a major showcase for international wrestling.