NEW DELHI -- The Indian government on Friday bestowed the nation's highest sporting award on Badminton Star Pullela Gopichand for winning the All-England Title this year.

The world number six, the second Indian after Prakash Padukone to win the All-England Title, was nominated for the Khel Ratna (sporting jewel) award in the annual honors list.

Past winners of the honor, which comprises a scroll and a cash award of 300,000 rupees (6,500 dollars), include cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Tennis Star Leander Paes and chess wizard Vishwanathan Anand.

Flying Sikh Milkha Singh was nominated for the Arjuna Award, the second highest sporting recognition, 41 years after he narrowly failed to win a bronze medal in the 400 meters at the 1960 Rome olympics.

Wrestler Khashaba Jadhav, who won a bronze at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 and died three years ago, was also among the 31 sportspersons nominated for the Arjuna Award.

"At least the government did not wait for me to die," said Milkha, clearly peeved that the recognition came so late to him and Jadhav.

Among others in the Arjuna list are cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, junior world shooting champion Abhinav Bindra and hockey captain Baljit Singh Saini.

The awards will be presented by President K.R. Narayanan at the presidential palace on August 29, the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand.