Awards, honour and controversies

Unfortunately, the prevailing state-of-affairs in the present-day sports was more than visible, which, maligned the very purpose of recognising sports heroes for their exploits across various disciplines. In a way, the controversy surrounding the premier award, the Rajiv Khel Ratna had its echo in Ashoka Hall. Recommending ace shooter Ronjan Sodhi’s name had a cascading effect when discus thrower, Krishna Poonia and paralympian H S Girisha raised a hue and cry over the ‘injustice’ meted out to them and their own candidatures. If that was not damaging enough, a faux pas was noticed by the authorities at the eleventh hour on Saturday.

Consequently, triple jumper Renjith Maheswary found to his horror that his name was being withheld because an enquiry was pending against him for alleged doping dating back to five years. Sodhi received the Khel Ratna, along with 14 Arjuna awardees, five Dronacharya and four Dhyan Chand Awardees. Sodhi received a medal, citation and a cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh while the remaining awardees were given statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each. In hindsight, the Sports Ministry has done gross injustice to India’s most celebrated non-cricketing icon. Dhyan Chand must be turning in his grave following the postponement of the National Sports Day by two days. August 29 has been dedicated to celebrate the birth anniversary of the hockey legend. Someone needs to answer how the function has been organised two days later!