talisman captain of india Sunil Chhetri The All India Football Federation has recommended for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country’s highest sporting honor for this year.
National Women’s Soccer Team Striker Bala Devi, who is currently playing for Rangers in the Scottish Women’s Premier League, has been recommended for the coveted Arjuna Award.
“We have recommended Sunil Chhetri for Khel Ratna and Bala Devi for Arjuna Award,” an official source said on the condition of anonymity.
“We have also recommended Gabriel Joseph for the Dronacharya award,” the source said.
Chhetri, 36, has been in tremendous form over the years for the country and his club Bengaluru FC. He has played 118 international matches, scoring 74 goals, both Indian records.
He scored twice against Bangladesh in the recent World Cup qualifier in Qatar and became the second highest international goalscorer among active footballers ahead of Argentina maestro Lionel Messi.
However, he is currently in fourth place with the United Arab Emirates behind Ali Mabkhout (76) and Messi (75).
Chhetri is the recipient of the Padma Shri (2019) and the Arjuna Award (2011), the country’s fourth highest civilian honor.
Since making his debut in 2005, Chhetri has been a part of the Indian team that won the AFC Challenge Cup (2008), SAFF Championship (2011, 2015), Nehru Cup (2007, 2009, 2012), Intercontinental Cup (2017, 2018). He also played in the 2011 and 2019 Asian Cups.
Devi, 31, on the other hand, became the first Indian woman footballer to play for a top-flight professional league in Europe when she joined Glasgow’s Rangers in January last year.
She has played over 50 matches for the country since 2010 and will play a key role in the national team during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to be held in the country next year.
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