India men’s cricket team captain Virat Kohli and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu were conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2018.
Virat Kohli is the third cricketer to be awarded the Khel Ratna after Sachin Tendulkar (1997) and MS Dhoni (2007).
Chanu is the third weightlifter to win the prize after Karnam Malleswari (1995) and Nameirakpam Kunjarani (1996).
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the highest sports honor of India and is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award consists of a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakhs.
This is given every year for outstanding contributions to sports over a period of four years.