Dhoni to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award
4 Aug 2008, 1800 Hrs

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New Delhi, Aug 4 (ANI): Indian skipper for ODIs and Twenty-20 Mahendra Singh Dhoni was selected for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, country's top most award for a sportsperson.

Expert committee headed by flying Sikh Milkha Singh on Monday decided to confer the award on Dhoni for leading India to the Twenty-20 World Cup triumph, making him only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to get the honour.

Sources in the Sports Ministry, however, informed that an official announcement would follow only after August 20.

Meanwhile, BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty hailed the decision.

"On two occasions, we felt let down when Rahul Dravid didn't get Khel Ratna Award and Yuvraj Singh was denied Arjuna Award. Dravid was in good form, we had won 16 ODIs on the trot and the team was on a high -- still he did not get the award," Shetty said.

"Yuvraj too was unlucky not to get Arjuna after two years of consistent performance. We are happy Dhoni got it," he added. (ANI)