The BCCI has been nominating Kohli for the Khel Ratna for the past three years but in 2016, it was given to Sakshi Malik, PV Sindhu and Deepa Karmakar for their good show at the Rio Olympic Games.
The 33-year-old broke the previous world record set in Berlin by fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto in 2014 by 1 minute and 18 seconds.
India's junior boxers also performed exceptionally well to claim 13 medals, six of them gold, while senior pro L Sarita Devi (60kg) ended with a bronze.
Sardar was eager to continue till the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but destiny had other plans as he called time at 32, after a disappointing Asian Games campaign where India failed to defend its title.
After the sacking, some parents of students who are learning to swim at the club came out in support of the coach and demanded his reinstatement.
Sardar called time on his 12-year career on Wednesday after he was dropped from the national camp probables for the Asian Champions Trophy and the World Cup.
India were placed third in the medals tally with 11 gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals for a total of 27, making this their best performance in the showpiece.
Just like his compatriots, fatigue seemed to have caught up with the seventh-seeded Srikanth as he squandered a game's lead to lose 21-19, 16-2, 18-21 against Korea's Lee Dong Keun.
Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Mary Kom is yet to set foot inside the ring but is through to the semis owing to the small size of the draw in the light flyweight 48kg category.
Sindhu, who has endured a hectic BWF season reaching five finals including three majors at CWG, World Championship and Asian Games, seemed mentally drained as errors crept into her game.
The eight-time Olympic gold medalist took a zero-gravity flight over France on Wednesday, courtesy of a champagne producer.
India are placed fourth in the medals tally with nine gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals for a total of 24, making this their best performance in the International Shooting Sport Federation's showpiece.
India ended Asian Games 2018 campaign on a disappointing note with a bronze medal after beating arch-rivals Pakistan in the third-place game.
Sushil had suffered an embarrassing first-round exit from the Asian Games and his participation was shrouded in doubt. While Divya has pulled out from the tournament due to an ankle injury.
Sindhu had to sweat it out for 53 minutes before prevailing 21-17 7-21 21-13 over unseeded local girl Sayaka Takahashi in her women's singles opening round.
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