Bajrang may go to court for Ratna

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, september 20

Bajrang Punia has opened up about his disappointment after he was not considered for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Bajrang has claimed he was ignored despite having the highest aggregate points as per the awards scheme.

Bajrang, who has won gold at this year’s Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, has sought an explanation from the Sports Ministry, failing which he would seek legal recourse.

“I don’t know why I was not considered. These days they have a points system so it is open and you have a fair idea which player has more points as per the scheme,” he said. “And I had the best numbers amongst the athletes who were shortlisted for Khel Ratna. But even then I didn’t get the award and I want to know the reason why I was ignored.”

Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and cricketer Virat Kohli have been recommended for the Khel Ratna this year.

Bajrang plans to meet Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Friday. “It is in his (Minister’s) hands now. I will tell him — ‘Give me the award only if you think I was a deserving candidate’. Also, I want to know the reason why I was dropped from the list. I will approach the court as a last option and if I am not convinced with the explanation,” he added.

Committee’s discretion

On the face of it, Bajrang’s grouse has a basis. He had the joint highest points with Vinesh Phogat, as per the points system. Both had aggregated 80 points each. But if he goes ahead and files a case, his plea may not hold ground as the Khel Ratna guidelines give the selection committee a lot of leeway while deliberating on a recommendation.

“Selection Committee may not mechanically recommend Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna to the recipient of the highest marks across disciplines,” the guidelines state. “For cricket and indigenous games, not included in Olympic/Asian Games/Commonwealth Games disciplines, the selection committee will take into consideration their individuals performances. 20% weightage will be given to the marks given by the selection committee for assessment of the eligible sportsperson keeping in view factors like profile and standard of the sports events in which he or she has won medals.”

A member of the awards committee said Bajrang’s complaints were not justified. “What he does not realise is the fact that his points will only be compared with that of another wrestler,” the committee member explained. “His complaint would have been justified had we ignored him and recommended another wrestler who had lesser points than him.”

“Cricketers or kho-kho or kabaddi players don’t get to play in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games or even Commonwealth Championships like the wrestlers. Many athletes will have lesser points because they get to play few tournaments. It is up to the discretion of the committee. Bajrang was not in the top three. Mirabai and Virat were the automatic choices,” the member added.

Previous court battles

Many athletes have approached the courts with their complaint in recent years. Boxer Manoj Kumar’s application for the 2014 Arjuna Award was disregarded by the committee for a mistaken doping violation. Kumar then went to court and won his plea as he had more points (21.82) than his boxing rival Jai Bhagwan (20.45), who was originally recommended for the award.

Roller skater Anup Kumar Yama, who had the maximum points (88.64), was ignored too. He went to court and was successful in getting the award in 2015. Similarly, weightlifter Sanjitha Chanu won a favourable verdict for her award snub last year. Her name has been recommended by the committee in a sealed cover due to her provisional doping suspension.

Manoj’s case

Bajrang raised Manoj’s case as an example to trump up support. “Wrestling is a sport where you can get injured, and then you lose out. I did not send my entry in 2014 as I knew I wasn’t a deserving candidate. But this time I think I was the deserving one. Manoj bhai won the court case to get the award. But it wouldn’t be the same if I get the award after fighting for it in the court. The more satisfying thing was to get it automatically,” he said.

Awards of contention

The annual sports awards are generally accompanied by controversies and court cases.

2017 Raj Kumar Case: Para shuttler Raj Kumar was conferred with the Arjuna Award on Sep 19 after fighting a court case. He won gold in the 2015 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships, but was not considered for the award. He was given the award after the courts ruled in his favour

2017 Inconsistencies: Para-athlete Devendra Jhajharia, who won gold in the Rio Paralympics in 2016, was given the Khel Ratna jointly with Sardar Singh. However, para-athlete Mariyappan Thangavelu, also gold winner in Rio, wasn't given the award

2016 Rio issues: Rio Olympics medallists PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik were given the Khel Ratna. Gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who finished fourth in vault in Rio, also got the same award!

2015 Court Case: Para-athlete HN Girisha challenged Sania Mirza's recommendation for Khel Ratna. The high jumper contended he deserved the award for his silver at the 2012 London Paralympics. He did not get a favourable judgement.

2014 Mistaken identity: Boxer Manoj Kumar got the Arjuna Award in 2014 after battling through courts. He had been denied after he was erroneously identified as a dope offender, and Delhi High Court ordered that the Haryana boxer be given the award