Third-time lucky for Aparna

It was third-time lucky for the much-criticised, anti-establishment, nine-time national champion Aparna Popat.

It was third-time lucky for the much-criticised, anti-establishment, nine-time national champion Aparna Popat. Finally she has got the Arjuna Award.

She had been in with a chance in 1999 and 2003, but ironically, it was only after opting out of Badminton Association of India8217;s BAI scheme of things, that she has been rewarded for her past.

8220;It8217;s a great relief and I am very happy to finally get it,8221; she told The Indian Express. Asked if it had come too late, Aparna said: 8220;I8217;m grateful for what I have got.8221;

The Arjuna Awards are usually given keeping in view the player8217;s performance over the past three years, but Aparna felt her case was different. 8220;I think it was my overall record which counted,8221; she said.

Kaushik8217;s gripe

Meanwhile, Maharaj K Kaushik, chief coach of Indian women8217;s hockey team has lashed out at the government for ignoring his wards for this years8217; Arjuna awards.

Talking to this paper over phone from Bhopal, he said: 8220;Two consecutive Commonwealth Games finals, Asia Cup and Afro-Asian Cup gold medals and other titles won by the team shows their tremendous success. I watch with pain that the contribution from players like Sumrai Tete and Jyoti Sunita Kullu have been ignored compeletely.8221;

Kaushik also expressed his unhappiness that a dedicated women8217;s hockey coach like Anurita Saini had not been considered for Dronacharya or Dhyan Chand awards.

THE LIST OF AWARDEES

8226; Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award: Pankaj Advani billiards 038; snooker

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8226; Dhyan Chand awards: Uday K Prabhu athletics, Commander Nandy Singh hockey, Harish Chandra M Birajdar wrestling

8226; Dronacharya awards: Captain M Venu boxing, Balwan Singh kabaddi, Maha Singh Rao wrestling, Ismail Baig rowing.

8226; Arjuna awards: Tarundeep Rai archery, Dola Banerjee archery, Manjit Kaur athletics, Aparna Popat badminton, Anuja Prakash Thakur billiards 038; snooker, Akhil Kumar boxing, Shri Surya Shekhar Ganguly chess, Anju Jain cricket, Viren Rasquinha hockey, Ramesh Kumar kabaddi, Gagan Narang shooting, Shikha Tandon swimming, Soumyadeep Roy table tennis, Sushil Kumar wrestling, Rajinder Singh Rahelu physically handicapped