New Delhi, May 8 (IANS): Hockey India (HI) on Friday recommended the national men's team captain Sardar Singh for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan Award.

The playmaker's teammates Danish Mujtaba, Dharamvir Singh, V.R. Raghunath, P.R. Sreejesh and S.V. Sunil and national women's team players Asunta Lakra, Deepika, Rani, Ritu Rani, Sushila Chanu and Vandana Katariya were recommended for the Arjuna Award.

"The players that we have recommended for the awards have proved themselves on the field through their play and through their representation in the national teams which has made India proud," said HI secretary general M. Mushtaque Ahmad.

"They have won India accolades at the international platform. I am confident that India will stand up and give them their due credit by bestowing them with the awards that they so rightly deserve. Being bestowed with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan or an Arjun Award is each players dream and they all work extremely hard for this national recognition," he added.