Beijing Olympic Games gold-medallist in 10m air rifle, Abhinav Bindra, was on Monday recommended for the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
Bindra had made his maiden appearance at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, where he finished 11th. At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, he gave an outstanding account in the preliminary round, but had to be content with seventh spot in the finals. He, however, hit bullseye eye at the Beijing Games.
He was also crowned champion in the Zagreb edition of the World Championships in 2006.
Bindra was bestowed with the Arjuna Award in 2000 and the following year was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest award in the field of sports. Ever since the government amended the Bharat Ratna eligibility criteria, the names of sporting luminaries - past and present - including Sachin Tendulkar and the late Dhyan Chand have cropped up.
