New Delhi: Despite its differences with India's ace singles player, All India Tennis Association has recommended Somdev Devvarman's name for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for the year 2013.
Somdev has been India's best bet in singles and has achieved some great results on the ATP tour after turning a pro. He also won the singles gold in 2010 Commonwealth Games and gold in both singles and doubles in the Guangzhou Asian Games the same year.
He reached a career-high rank of 62 in July 2011 but a shoulder injury coupled with poor form led to a slide in the ranking table. He was out of action for about eight months after undergoing a shoulder surgery last January.
Apart from Somdev, the AITA has recommended the name of yesteryear star Vijay Amritraj for the Dhyan Chand Award. Vijay, along with his brother, had reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 1976.
Current Davis Cup coach Zeeshan Ali has been recommended for Arjuna Award along with veteran player Rushmi Chakravarthi, says an AITA press release.
Nandan Bal, whom Zeeshan replaced as Davis Cup coach, has been recommended for the Dronacharya Award.
