New Delhi: No Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar yet? The three names that the Sports Ministry has forwarded to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to be considered for the first Bharat Ratna for a sportsman are those of hockey legend Dhyanchand, Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra and the man who first conquered Mt Everest, Tenzing Norgay.

The Chess Federation had also recommended Vishwanathan Anand's name, but the Sports Ministry said that they did not receive Anand's recommendation from the Chess Federation till last night, hence his name has not been forwarded. The shooting federation was the first one to recommend Bindra's name. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not proposed Sachin's name; it has suggested that the Sports Ministry make that recommendation.

Last month, the government included sportsmen in the eligibility criterion for India's highest civilian award; the Bharat Ratna can now be awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order "in any field of human endeavour". It was earlier limited to recognising "exceptional services in arts, literature and science, and in recognition of public services of the highest order."

The changes were brought about after Sports Minister Ajay Maken wrote to the Home Ministry last year. Mr Maken, when asked who he thought should be the first sportsman to get a Bharat Ratna, had said that Dhyanchand or Tendulkar would be his pick.

There has been much clamour over the last few years for a Bharat Ratna for Sachin, India's most prolific run-getter.