GoasBhaktiKulkarni has been recommended for theArjuna Awardby the selection panel headed by retired SC AM Khanwilkar.
Should, as expected, the Sports ministry accepts the recommendation of the selection committee, the chess queen will be the first Goan woman to receive the top sporting honour, and the first non-footballer from the state.
Two Goans,Padma Shri Brahmanand Shankhwalkar(1998) and Bruno Coutinho (2001), both footballers, have won theArjunaAward in the past.
Bhakti said the last five years performances were considered for the award.
Bhakti also won the team gold medal in the online chess Olympiad in August 2020 and Asian Nations Cup online in October the same year.