Trailblazing decathlete Tejaswin Shankar has criticized the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities for the unprecedented delay in asserting the Nationwide Sports activities Awards. The federal government, based on Press Belief of India, is conducting a contemporary spherical of scrutiny to remove unworthy winners, leaving dozens of elite athletes in uncertainty.
Regardless of the official choice committee submitting its remaining suggestions practically 4 months in the past, in December, the ministry has paused the method. This transfer has drawn vital criticism from athletes who consider the re-evaluation undermines the committee’s authority and provides undue strain on those that have already met the strict standards.
“This could have been considered ‘earlier than’ the unofficial really useful names got here out in December. Not 4 months ‘after’. This delay isn’t just demotivating to athletes and coaches but additionally an indication of disrespect,” Tejaswin Shankar mentioned in submit on X.
Sources throughout the ministry defended the delay, stating that re-assessment is critical to keep up the awards’ status.
“The listing of Arjuna award suggestions is being re-evaluated proper now. The worth of those awards shouldn’t get diminished, that is the objective. It should not be the case that we’ve Arjuna awardees in each nook and nook however whenever you ask them about their accomplishments, there may be nothing a lot to indicate,” a supply within the ministry mentioned, based on PTI.
Hockey star Hardik Singh is reportedly the sole nominee for the Khel Ratna, the very best sporting honour. The Arjuna Award shortlist contains 24 athletes, together with teenage chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, Tejaswin, and Aarti Pal, the first-ever Yogasana athlete nominated because the self-discipline’s formal recognition.
The ministry additionally emphasised its intention to maneuver away from subjective panels in direction of a strict, points-based automated system.
“It is just like the prize cash—in case you have received an Olympic medal, you should not must fill a type to get your Rs 75 lakh prize cash. The system simply is aware of and transfers the cash suitably. Equally, an athlete who has achieved the requisite should not must be evaluated once more by a panel,” the official added.
Officers cited the quite a few authorized battles and public disputes which have beforehand marred the awards ceremony. By tightening the factors now, the ministry goals to stop the litigations and media statements that observe from athletes who really feel unjustly excluded.
Historically, the awards are introduced by the President of India on August 29, the Nationwide Sports activities Day, which honors hockey legend Main Dhyan Chand.
Nonetheless, this timeline has fractured lately attributable to main worldwide occasions and administrative adjustments.
Because it stands, the ministry has not confirmed a date for the ceremony, leaving the nation’s high performers unsure if their names will survive the ultimate stringent choice.
– ends