Indian football national team captain Sunil Chhetri’s name has been nominated for this year’s Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest sporting privilege of the Republic of India, by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
All India Football Federation to recommend footballer Sunil Chhetri for Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna award. Relevant documents for his nomination are yet to be submitted, an official told ANI.
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— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2021
National women’s football team forward Bala Devi has been nominated for the coveted Arjuna Award. She is currently playing for the Scottish Women’s Premier League club called Rangers. 31-year-old forward is the first Indian woman footballer who has played for a top-flight professional league in Europe since the time she joined Rangers.
“We have recommended Sunil Chhetri for the Khel Ratna and Bala Devi for Arjuna Award,” told an official source to PTI on condition of anonymity. “We have also recommended Gabriel Joseph for Dronacharya Award,” said the source in addition.
Indian Captain has been carrying the team and won the crucial match in the qualifiers this year as he scored a brace in the recent World Cup Qualifiers in Qatar. With the brace, he became the second-highest international goal scorer among the active footballers, ahead of Argentine and Barcelona’s captain Lionel Messi. His form for the country and his club Bengaluru FC in the last few years has been immense.
Chhetri has won AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, SAFF Championship twice in 2011 and 2015, Nehru Cup in 2007, 2009, 2012 and Intercontinental Cup in 2017, 2018. He also appeared in the Asian Cup of the year 2011 and 2019.