Opinion Games people play for Awards
When the Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards committee decided on a set of names earlier this week,it should have had the seal of approval the sports minister.
When the Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards committee decided on a set of names earlier this week,it should have had the seal of approval the sports minister. Instead,the recommendations file remains in Shastri Bhawan for a final approval from Jitendra Singh,which has given those aggrieved the window of opportunity to lobby through MPs,powerful officials and sporting icons for their names to be added to the list.
If the minister makes changes to the panels recommendations he is empowered to do so than its primacy will be under question and the value of the awards will be tarnished. All this could have been avoided had the names been announced officially on Tuesday itself with a rider: Final list.
Of those who missed out but are hoping to be on the list that has the ministers final nod are former India volleyball captain Tom Joseph. Joseph,who has applied for the award at least half a dozen times earlier,has found support from Keralas MPs. Jiji Thomson,the director general of Sports Authority of India,is also fighting Josephs case.
The powerful Jat lobby from Rajasthan is gearing up to knock on the doors of the Alwar MP on behalf of discus thrower Krishna Poonia,if the grapevine is to be believed. Paralympian HN Girisha,who won silver in the high jump at London,is not too far behind when it comes to pulling strings.
Both Girisha and Poonia,who finished sixth at London,however,may have already been overlooked last year in favour of shooter Vijay Kumar and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt,both medal winners at the 2012 Olympics.
And if finishing sixth was deserving of the Khel Ratna,than prone shooter Joydeep Karmakar,who finished fourth,might have as strong a case for inclusion as that of Poonia.
(Vinayak is a principal correspondent based in New Delhi.)vinayakbhushan.padmadeo@expressindia.com
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