New Delhi: Asian Games gold medallist K M Beenamol was selected for the country's most prestigious sports award - the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna – on August 9.

The decision to nominate the middle-distance runner for the top honour was revealed by one of the members of the committee which met in New Delhi on August 9 to prune the original list of nominees.

The decision also put to rest the confusion over whether there would be two Khel Ratna Awardees this year.

Beenamol edged out ace shooter Anjali Bhagwat who was initially in the running after the committee recommended that the award be shared between the two top women performers of 2002.

Beenamol had an extraordinary 2002 with the Kerala athlete winning two gold medals and a silver in the Busan Asian Games.

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was instituted in 1991-92 to honour the most spectacular and outstanding performance in a year and carries Rs 5 lakh, a medallion and a scroll of honour.

The President gives away the award, along with the Arjuna and Dronacharya awards, at a ceremonial function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan every year on August 29.

PTI