Scrap Drona awards: Akhil

Tribune news service

New Delhi, August 18

2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medallist boxer Akhil Kumar today said that the government should consider scrapping the Dronacharya Award as it has lost its significance.

Kumar, who is a national observer for boxing, added that strict action should be taken against athletes who recommend names of multiple coaches for the award.

“There have been cases where one athlete has recommended names of different coaches for the award and the Sports Ministry has accepted their recommendations. Such acts on the part of athletes and coaches amounts to forgery. If you charge these athletes under Section 420 of IPC (cheating), then only they will learn a lesson. I find this trend quite surprising,” he said.

Kumar, an Arjuna awardee, said the current system has become so flawed that the athletes are influencing the recommendations for the award.