Covid-19 delays process of National Sports Awards

New Delhi, April 26

The process to pick this year’s national sports awards has been delayed because of the nation-wide lockdown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and the applications will be invited next month, a Sports Ministry official told PTI.

The ministry generally invites the nominations for the awards in April while the ceremony to confer them is held on August 29 on the occasion of National Sports Day celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.

But this year, the process is yet to start because of the pandemic. The official said the delay was inevitable considering the present circumstances.

“The ministry is yet to issue the circular for National Sports Award applications. Generally, the process should have been completed by the month of April but this year the situation is unprecedented,” the official said. “But hopefully the circular will be issued in May.”

The National Sports Awards include Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyanchand Awards, and are conferred every year by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The recipients are selected from a wide range of nominations by a Sports Ministry-appointed committee which includes renowned sports personalities, ministry officials and journalists.

Ravi Mittal to replace Julaniya as new Sports Secretary

Ravi Mittal was on Sunday appointed as the new Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary, replacing Radhey Shyam Julaniya. Mittal is a 1986 batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre. He was the Secretary of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting prior to this appointment. Julaniya held the post for little more than one year after he took over as Sports Secretary in February 2019.

During Julaniya’s reign, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) was brought under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in August last year, ending years of defiance.

Ever since he took over as Sports Secretary, Jhulaniya has been at loggerheads with National Sports Federations (NSF) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). — PTI