Sakshi Malik disappointed over Arjuna snub

Chandigarh, August 22

Ignored for the Arjuna award, Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Sakshi Malik took to social media to express her disappointment.

Sakshi, already a recipient of Khel Ratna – the country’s highest sporting honour – had applied for the Arjuna award but her case was rejected by the Sports Ministry after the awards committee left it to minister’s discretion.

Weightlifter Mira Bai Chanu’s application was also rejected as she has also received the Khel Ratna in the past.

“Honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi jee and honourable sports minister @kirenrijiju jee. I am honoured that I have been conferred with the Khel Ratna. Every player dreams of getting all the awards. The athletes toil hard. I, too have a dream that I get Arjuna award. How many medals should I win to get it? Or I will not get it in my wrestling career,” she tweeted in Hindi on Saturday.

Sakshi has been struggling since her Rio exploits. Leave aside producing results at the international level, the grappler is even finding it difficult to get past the upcoming youngsters in her category.

Twice she lost to Sonam Malik during the trials for international tournaments.  

Sakshi had also claimed recently that she had got only assurances from the state government despite doing well. “So far, I have not got a plot (land) nor has a job been given to me. I had met the Sports Minister and the Chief Minister earlier, but only got assurances,” Sakshi had said on Thursday.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, however, rejected the claim. “We gave a cheque of Rs 2.5 crore the day she landed in India (after the Olympics event),” he said. PTI