New Delhi: Olympic star Javelin Thrower Neeraj Chopra has been recommended for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by the Indian Athletics Federation (AFI).
The 23-year-old Chopra nomination came after the Dutee Chand Sprinter was recommended for the same appreciation by the Odisha government.
These are the fourth time Chopra is recommended for Khel Ratna since 2018.
“Neeraj has been recommended by the award committee for Khel Ratna this year,” said an official source to PTI with anonymity requirements.
Chopra has negotiated with Arjuna Award in 2018 after winning gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
That year, he was also recommended for Khel Ratna.
He was again recommended for Khel Ratna in 2019 after winning GOLD in 2018 Asian Games.
Last year, he was recommended for the honor of the peak.
Chopra, who qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in January 2020 in South Africa, currently in Europe, prepares the Tokyo Olympics.
He has taken part in three events – in Portugal, Sweden and Finland – since June 10.
He will compete in an event in Switzerland on Tuesday but withdraw from it to give enough time to rest after many trips.
, He is expected to participate in the Liga Diamond Gateshead (England) on July 13.
It would be Chopra’s biggest event before the Olympics, which opened on July 23.
Chopra has won a bronze in a quortane match in Finland on Saturday with an effort of 86.79m, behind the season-leader and world champion 2017 Johannes Vetter (93.59m) and 2012 gold medal Olympiad and 2016 bronze winner Games Keshorn Walcott (89.12m).
It was the third best performance of Chopra this season since rewriting its own national record during the Grand Prix India 3 with a throw of 88.07m in March in Nis Patiala.
A few days later, he had thrown 87.80 m during the Federation Cup in the same place.