Asian and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia was on Friday nominated for the country’s highest sporting honour the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, a year after he threatened to move court for not getting his due.

His name was finalised by a 12-member selection committee on the opening day of a two-day meeting. The panel comprises the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia and M C Mary Kom among others and is headed by Justice Mukundakam Sharma.

Bajrang had threatened to move court after he was snubbed for the Khel Ratna award last year despite being a gold-medallist in both the Asian and Commonwealth Games.On getting the nod on Friday, Bajrang asserted that he is a deserving candidate of the award.

Bajrang had last year won the gold medal in the 65-kg freestyle event at the Asian Games held in Jakarta.He had also won the gold medal in the same category at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.Besides, he is a two-time medallist at the world championships and a strong medal hope for India at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

While Bajrang won a bronze in 60kg in 2013 World Championships, he bettered his feat last year by bagging a silver in the 65kg category. “My job is to train hard and compete hard. My focus has always been on my performance and not awards. But the recognition does come your way when you do well,” Bajrang told PTI from Georgia, where he is training for the World Championships.“I had the achievements to deserve this award. I have always said that awards should go to the most deserving ones.”

He welcomed the recognition, but Bajrang said he doesn’t consider it a motivation ahead of the World Championships to be held from September 14 to 22 at Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

“My focus has always been on preparing for the big stage but yes, recognition makes you happy. It is certainly a good news weeks before the World Championship,” he said.