In Pics: Virat, Chanu Awarded Khel Ratna, Hima & Neeraj Win Arjuna

Virat Kohli and weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu were conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

Virat Kohli and Mirabai Chanu with their Khel Ratna citations presented to them by President Ram Nath Kovind.

(Photo: PTI)

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli and world champion weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu were conferred with the country's highest sporting honour -- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award -- by President Ram Nath Kovind at the annual National Sports Awards ceremony on Tuesday.

This year's award ceremony was postponed to September 25 from the usual August 29 National Sports Day event due to the clash of dates with the Asian Games in Indonesia.

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award is given for a 'spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years'. Both Kohli and Chanu received a medal, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh.

President Ram Nath Kovind confers Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award on weightlifter Mirabai Chanu at the National Sports and Adventure Award 2018 function.(Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli before receiving the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award at the National Sports and Adventure Award 2018 function.(Photo: PTI)

Besides the Khel Ratna, star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, sprinter Hima Das, table tennis star Manika Batra were among the 20 recipients of the prestigious Arjuna award

The other Arjuna awardees were long distance runner Jinson Johnson, shuttler N.Sikki Reddy, boxer Satish Kumar, woman cricketer Smriti Mandhana, golfer Shubhankar Sharma, hockey stars Manpreet Singh and Savita Punia, Col. Ravi Rathore (Polo), shooters Rahi Sarnobat, Ankur Mittal, Shreyasi Singh, paddler G. Sathiyan, tennis player Rohan Bopanna, wrestler Sumit, Pooja Kadian (Wushu).

U-20 Javelin World Champion, 2018 Asian Games and CWG Gold Medallist Neeraj Chopra.(Photo: Twitter)

Indian 400m record holder Hima Das.(Photo: PTI)

Badminton player Nelakurthi Sikki Reddy with her Arjuna Award.(Photo: Twitter)

President Ram Nath Kovind presents Arjuna Award to athlete Naib Subedar Jinson Johnson at the National Sports and Adventure Award 2018 function.(Photo: PTI)

President Ram Nath Kovind presents Arjuna Award to boxer Satish Kumar at the National Sports and Adventure Award 2018 function(Photo: PTI)