Denied Arjuna repeatedly, Amit Panghal requests Rijiju to revamp sports awards selection process

Repeatedly denied the Arjuna award for an “inadvertent” dope offence again in 2012, Asian Games gold-winning boxer Amit Panghal on Friday requested Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to revamp the choice standards for the nationwide sports activities awards, calling the present course of “discriminatory”. In a letter to the Minister, Panghal, who grew to become India’s first male boxer to win a world championship silver final yr, mentioned that athletes shouldn’t must plead their case for an award by nominating themselves.

“The current process is that a sportsperson has to send application and then sports committee selects on the basis of these applications. Award selection is also based on discriminative decision of sports committee members who hold no accountability,” he mentioned within the letter.

Panghal has been nominated twice for the Arjuna award however has not been thought of due to the previous dope violation, which occurred when he underwent remedy for hen pox in 2012.

The course of to choose this yr’s nationwide sports activities awardees has already began and the final date of submitting nomination has been set at June 3.

“Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India (SAI) has all the data, they know who is deserving and who is not,” Panghal informed PTI whereas talking about his causes for writing the letter.

“If not this year, then may be next year, change has to come at some point,” he added. After nominations, a panel chosen by the sports activities ministry finalises the winners primarily based on a factors system wherein the Olympic and world championship medals get most weightage.

“The Army is pushing my case this year and I hope the dope violation won’t come into the picture because that was an inadvertent intake at the youth level. I have been performing consistently, I do deserve to be considered,” mentioned Subedar in Indian Army. Self-nomination or nomination by the nationwide federations, sports activities boards and previous awardees are step one within the course of.

“This process is not transparent and there are many examples where a deserving sportsperson has to go to courts to claim awards. This is very uncomfortable for sportspersons as well as for sports administration,” he mentioned. The 24-year-old Commonwealth Games silver-medallist is by far probably the most profitable in Indian boxing proper now however is unlikely to be thought of even this yr as the standards doesn’t enable for dope-tainted nominations.

“Most of the prestigious awards in the world have been given without asking for nominations as in true spirit, an award is a recognition of achievement of sportspersons.

“This (the current process) resembles an old system from the British era when achievers have to apply for an award. By making this award nomination-free, you will be making a solid change in sports system of India,” he mentioned addressing Rijiju.

“It is a humble request to consider this change and I will be highly indebted to you,” he added.