New Delhi, Mahendra Singh Dhoni became only the second cricketer, a decade after Sachin Tendulkar, to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award as he was conferred the country's highest sporting honour at a glittering function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Friday.
The Indian ODI captain, however, could not attend the function as he was leading the team in the fifth and final match of the one-day series against Sri Lanka, which India has already won.
His father Paan Singh received the award on his behalf.
President Pratibha Patil presented Rs 500,000, a scroll of honour and a medal in recognition to his spectacular and most outstanding performance in sports.
Apart from the 27-year-old Dhoni, it was also a red letter day for 11 other sportspersons, who were bestowed Arjuna Awards at a packed Ashok Hall which reverberated with thunderous applause.
Olympian shooter Avneet Kaur Sidhu, veteran hockey forward Prabhjot Singh, and Beijing Olympic quarter-finalist rower Bajranglal Takhar were among those who were honoured with the Arjuna awards at the magnificent ceremony.
One of the Arjuna awards awardee, badminton player Anup Sridhar who talked to CNN-IBN correspondent said, "The best is yet to come."
World junior champion in women's chess D Harika, ace golfer Arjun Atwal and powerlifter Ferman Basha could not make it to the award function.
Harika's sister Anusha, Atwal's father Harminder and Basha's wife Andorita received the awards on the behalf of the respective sportspersons.
Once again none of the men cricketers featured in list of Arjuna awardees' since Harbhajan Singh won it in 2003.
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