Cricket's Rohit Sharma, Hockey Goalie PR Sreejesh Nominated for Arjuna Award

Star batsman Rohit Sharma and veteran hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh have been nominated for the Arjuna Award, India's second highest sporting honour for 2014-15. The recommendations were made by the selection committee to the ministry of sports on Tuesday.(Sania to Get Khel Ratna)

Tennis queen Sania Mirza has been chosen for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest award for an Indian sportsperson. Sania won the Wimbledon doubles crown in June and is the world's No. 1 player in doubles.

Seventeen names have been recommended by the committee to the sports ministry. Apart from Rohit Sharma and Sreejesh, wrestlers Bajrang and Babita, K. Srikanth (badminton), Jitu Rai (shooting) and gymnast Deepa Karmakar are on the Arjuna Award list.

Rohit, who rewrote the world record of the highest individual ODI score in an innings last year by hitting 264 against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens, has struck seven One Day International hundreds so far.

The Mumbaikar, who was the third batsman after Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag to hit a double century in the 50-over format, holds the record for two double centuries in ODIs.

The Arjuna Award carries a cash prize of Rs 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll.

Full list of Arjuna Award nominations: Sandip Singh (Archery); MR Poovamma (Athletics); Mandip Jangra (boxing); Rohit Sharma (Cricket); Deepa Karmakar (Gymnastics); PR Sreejesh (Hockey); Jitu Rai (Shooting); Bajrang and Babita (Wrestling); Sanathai Devi (Wushu); M Sharath (Para-swimming); Satish Shivalingam (Weightlifting); Anup Kumar (Roller skating); Manjeet Chillar and Abhilasha (Kabaddi); Swarn Singh (Rowing); K Srikanth (Badminton).

(With inputs from Vimal Mohan)