New Delhi: Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi and International Master Tania Sachdev are recommended by All India Chess Federation (AICF) for this year's Arjuna awards. Negi and Sachdev are the only two chess players who have been recommended for this prestigious award.

Interestingly, till date, no chess player from the Capital has got this award. Last year, Dronavalli Harika was the only Arjuna awardee in chess.

While Negi became world's second youngest GM in 2006, Tania is still an IM beside being a WGM, which doesn't fall in the same rank as a GM which is harder to achieve.

Both Negi and Tania are currently playing in France and Spain respectively. "I thank the Federation for recommending my name," said Negi, who is ranked 214 in the world as against Tania's 1977. Besides, Negi is only the sixth Indian GM who has touched the magical 2600 Elo mark.

Last Sunday, Negi had finished tied for fifth place with a 6/9 performance at the Paris International Open and was awarded the Paris Open Cup.

He will be flying to Copenhagen for Politiken Cup which begins from Saturday. If the performance of both these players in international events in preceding year is taken into account, then the 15-year-old GM stands a better chance of winning the prestigious award than Tania who shared the third spot at the Donostia Chess Festival at San Sebastian, Spain, after the seventh round.

The Chronology of Arjuna Awardees In Chess: