Champion cueist Pankaj Advani is a frontrunner, ahead of India cricket captain Rahul Dravid [Images] and tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi [Images], for this year's Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the country's highest sporting honour, according to sources.

"He is ahead of Dravid and Bhupathi in the run for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award," the sources said in Delhi on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Advani, who hails from Bangalore, won the World billiards championship in 2005 and the World snooker title in 2003.

Currently part of the Indian contingent at the World snooker team championship, in San Jose, USA, Advani said he was very excited to hear the news before the start of the tournament.

Asked for his reaction on being ahead of popular sports personalities like Dravid and Bhupathi, Advani replied: "I have tremendous respect for these sportspersons, but I am happy that the selection panel took achievement and not popularity into consideration," the Arjuna award winner of 2004, said.

"It is definitely an ecstatic feeling when you get the country's highest award. I wanted it very badly."

Top women cueist Anuja Thakur has been recommended for the Arjuna award, the sources added.

Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore won the Khel Ratna last year.