Khel Ratna Award: Need to change guard, to save prestigious award!

There is an all-round anger and resentment among many sports persons towards the modalities adopted by the selection committee and the way the names of sports persons for various awards have been finalised.

The Punjab Kesari, a prominent newspaper, has published a story categorically mentioning that based on the opinion of former awardees, sportspersons and the fans, it is amply clear that the selection for Arjuna and Khel Ratna awards has not been fair. Rather, the paper has underlined that the selection has made a mockery of the system.

A number of sportspersons have been raising their voices through different modes of media. Krishna Poonia – the Indian star athlete has met the minister of sports and youth affairs, to lodge her complaint for being ignored for nomination of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. The minister has ensured Krishna that he will call for the papers and will see if anything wrong has happened. She believes that justice will be done and she is hoping for a positive result.

The controversy began when a few members of the selection committee put a big question mark on the procedure of selection itself. Despite the protest, controversies and resentments, there are remote chances that the selection committee will effect any major changes. Though this dispute is phenomenal every year, but this time, the sportspersons are more vocal.

On 29 August 2013, when the President of India will be distributing the award, many of the athletes will be cursing the selection procedure. The coveted awards include Dronacharya, Khel Ratna, Arjuna award and Dhyan Chand award.

However, keeping in view the outshining performance of the vibrant Virat Kohli and also the Badminton sensation PV Sindhu, their nomination is just and valid. It is like honoring the honor itself. Though, a number of fans expect that even Khel Ratna for Sindhu would have been an appropriate decision. Also, the popular hockey player Ritu Rani was a strong contender, but she has been ignored.

These gross irregularities do put a big question mark on the transparency and working of the selection committee. The newspaper claims that the nomination of many a players, especially the shooter Ranjan Sodhi’s nomination for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, is astonishing, and is a clear violation of the given parameters, rules and regulation in vogue. Generally, the year for which the awards are given forms the basis, but Ranjan Sodhi has done nothing worth mentioning during the year 2012-13.

If the performance is the key word, than Somdev Devvarman, India’s tennis star, is a perfect claimant as he has won two gold medals in Asian Games and one Gold medal in Commonwealth games. Also, he has done a really commendable job in the Davis cup.

We should keep in view the outshining performance of Indian sportspersons, the ever increasing popularly and the rapid growth of sports in India. I think this is high time that all concerned, especially the sports channels, media and the common man should take this as a wake-up call. We must get together to raise our voice against the wrong doing and contribute towards cleansing the system. India awaits justice!