New Delhi: Six-time world champion boxer Mary Kom has been recommended for Padm Vibhushan award, India's second highest civilian honour, according to a report.

As per The Times of India, the sports ministry has recommended names for Padma awards. In a first in nation's history, an all-women list has been sent.

Also read: Mary Kom wins award

There are nine women in the list including Mary. The veteran boxer was earlier honoured with Padma Bhushan (2013) and Padma Shri (2016).

So far, Padma Vibhushan has been bestowed upon only three male sportspersons namely chess legend Viswanathan Anand (2007), cricket great Sachin Tendulkar (2008) and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary (2008, posthumously).

Also read: PV Sindhu talks on foreign coach's role

Ace shuttler PV Sindhu, who recently won the BWF World Championships in Switzerland, has been recommended for Padma Shri. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, table tennis player Manika Batra, T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur, hockey captain Rani Rampal, former shooter Suma Shirur and mountaineer twin sisters Tashi and Nungshi Malik feature in the list, according to the newspaper.

Sindhu became the first Indian shuttler to win a World Championships gold. Yesterday (September 11), she told news agency PTI that she is aiming to win gold at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

The names of the awardees will be announced on the eve of Republic Day (January 26) next year.