For the first time since 2003, an athlete from Bengal has been nominated for the Arjuna Award.

Soma Biswas had been conferred the Arjuna that year. On Saturday, heptathlete Swapna Barman has been named for the same.

“I am thrilled,” Swapna told The Telegraph. “It’s like a dream come true. But saying that, I also have to say that my ambitions don’t end here. I hope to go on to win greater laurels for my country.”

Swapna clinched the Jakarta Asian Games gold in heptathlon last year, a feat which drew greater praise because she won the gruelling seven-event contest that covers a range of track-and-field events with an excruciating toothache. Not to mention the fact that due to the six toes on her feet, she never had comfortable shoes.

“Well deserved,” said Swapna’s coach Subhash Sarkar. “I feel she should have got it earlier. But better late than never.

“However, for an athlete, the sky is the limit and I am sure Swapna will fetch more awards in the future. Jyotirmoyee Sikdar had won the Khel Ratna and the Padma Shri, apart from the Arjuna. I hope for such success for Swapna too,” Sarkar added.

Fouaad Mirza, the first civilian to win an individual medal (silver) in eventing for India at the Asian Games last year, is now the first civilian to have been nominated for Arjuna in equestrianism.

Fouaad, who is currently training under Sandra Aufarth in Germany, agrees that this recognition is a ‘big milestone’. “A shot in the arm for me, certainly, and am extremely happy for this honour.

“But to be honest, I’m focussed on my upcoming tournaments. Don’t intend to let this distract me,” Fouaad said.

World No. 1 wrestler Bajrang Punia and Paralympian Deepa Malik were nominated for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country’s highest sporting award.

Beside Swapna and Fouaad, the selection committee also picked 17 others for the Arjuna, including cricketers Ravindra Jadeja and Poonam Yadav, track and field stars Tejinder Pal Singh Toor and Mohammed Anas and footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

The panel nominated three for the Dronacharya — former badminton star Vimal Kumar, Sandeep Gupta (table tennis) and Mohinder Singh Dhillon (athletics).

Former national table tennis champion and present India coach Arup Basak, along with Manoj Kumar (wrestling), Nitten Kirrtane (tennis), C. Lalremsanga (archery) and Manuel Fredricks (hockey) will get the Dhyan Chand Award.