New Delhi: India's cricket captain Virat Kohli and women's 48 kg weightlifting world champion Mirabai Chanu have been recommended for the 2018 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the highest sporting award of the country.

The committee headed by Justice (retired) Indermeet Kaur Kochhar, which met in the capital on Monday, also recommended the names of 20 sportspersons for the Arjuna award. In case the committee's recommendations are accepted by the sports ministry, then the number of Arjuna awardees could be one of the highest in a calendar year in the recent years.

Kohli, under whom India recently lost the Test series against England, is currently the world's No.1 Test batsman as per the ICC rankings. He is set to be the third cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to be conferred with Khel Ratna.

Mirabai, on the other hand, is the third weightlifter after legendary Karnam Malleswari and N Kunjarani to find her place in the prestigious list. Currently the world champion in her weight category, Mirabai is nursing an injury in Mumbai and it prevented her from going to Asian Games.

"As I missed the Asian Games because of injury, I felt I may not be considered for Khel Ratna. But my mother gave me strength... In fact she prayed for me every day. It is a great day for me," said the champion lifter.

The committee, it is believed, had to increase the number of Arjuna awardees in the light of India's impressive showings at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games this year. The maximum number of awardees, three each, have come from athletics and shooting.

In athletics, world junior javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, who also bagged gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, has been recommended for Arjuna, along with sprinter Hima Das and middle-distance runner Jinson Johnson.

Hima won the 400 metres gold medal in world Under-20 championship and also bagged three medals, including one gold, at the Asian Games. Johnson came up with a sensational display in Jakarta, winning one gold and one silver.

Among the prominent sportspersons to be recommended for Arjuna is doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna. A veteran in the circuit, the award has eluded the tennis star for the last few years, but the committee has decided in his favour this time.

Hockey player Manpreet Singh is also in the list. Table tennis star Manika Batra, who created a sensation by winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal is also there along with fellow paddler G. Sathiayan.