On September 17, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli and world champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who opened India’s medal tally with gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 48kg category, were jointly recommended for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, while star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was among 20 sportspersons picked for the Arjuna Awards.
It’s fascinating to know that both Kohli and Chanu were granted the Padma Shri in successive years — Kohli in 2017 and Chanu this year. Chanu was the panel’s the unanimous choice. The world’s top-ranked batsman, Kohli, in both Tests and ODIs at the moment, with the award, got second-time lucky after being ignored last year.
The list was already out but the ministry made it official, on 20th, September. They will be honored at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Ram Nath Kovind on September 25.
EVOLVING CONTROVERSY
According to documents, Kohli’s performance sheet has no points, as no criterion has been set for cricket. Six other Khel Ratna aspirants were there who totaled more points than Mirabai Chanu. Based on their achievements wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat bagged total 80 points each, yet 11-member selection team decided that Kohli and Mirabai would receive India’s highest sports award this year.
Punia with 80 points were far more than Kohli’s ‘zero’ and Chanu’s 44, who has been recommended for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award 2018.
Commonwealth Games 2018 gold medalist, Bajrang Punia sparked the controversy, when he questioned the selection criteria for the country’s highest sporting honor, on 20th September. Meanwhile, on 21st September, Punia met Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Sports Minister to inquire about the matter. He against his name being overlooked for the award also threatened to move to court.
“I’m hurt for not being recognized for my talent and performances; I don’t know what was the criteria of selection for this award. I was supposed to meet the Minister today (21st Sept) but suddenly we got a call last evening for the meeting. I asked the minister about the reason for not considering me for the Khel Ratna. He said I didn’t have enough points which is wrong. I have garnered more points than the two (Virat Kohli and Mirabai Chanu) who were nominated. I have been wronged. I want justice. The minister said he will look into the matter but there is hardly any time left for the award function. I will wait till evening for communication from the government’s side. If I don’t get a favorable reply by evening I will move court tomorrow (22nd Sept).” –Bajrang Punia
PUNIA GOT REVERT
“The minister met Bajrang and wanted to know his grievances. He explained to Bajrang why his name was not considered. Even though he has promised Bajrang to look into the matter, it is unlikely that any changes will be made.” – The source in the sports ministry
WHO ACHIEVED MILESTONE?
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2018
| No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Discipline |
| 1. | S. Mirabai Chanu | Weightlifting |
| 2. | Virat Kohli | Cricket |
Arjuna Awards 2018
| No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Discipline |
| 1. | Neeraj Chopra | Athletics |
| 2. | Naib Subedar Jinson Johnson | Athletics |
| 3. | Hima Das | Athletics |
| 4. | Nelakurthi Sikki Reddy | Badminton |
| 5. | Subedar Satish Kumar | Boxing |
| 6. | Smriti Mandhana | Cricket |
| 7. | Shubhankar Sharma | Golf |
| 8. | Manpreet Singh | Hockey |
| 9. | Savita | Hockey |
| 10. | Col. Ravi Rathore | Polo |
| 11. | Rahi Sarnobat | Shooting |
| 12. | Ankur Mittal | Shooting |
| 13. | Shreyasi Singh | Shooting |
| 14. | Manika Batra | Table Tennis |
| 15. | G. Sathiyan | Table Tennis |
| 16. | Rohan Bopanna | Tennis |
| 17. | Sumit | Wrestling |
| 18. | Pooja Kadian | Wushu |
| 19. | Ankur Dhama | Para-Athletics |
| 20. | Manoj Sarkar | Para-Badminton |
Dronacharya Award 2018
| No. | Name of the Coach | Discipline |
| 1. | Subedar Chenanda Achaiah Kuttappa | Boxing |
| 2. | Vijay Sharma | Weightlifting |
| 3. | A. Srinivasa Rao | Table Tennis |
| 4. | Sukhdev Singh Pannu | Athletics |
| 5. | Clarence Lobo | Hockey (Life Time) |
| 6. | Tarak Sinha | Cricket (Life Time) |
| 7. | Jiwan Kumar Sharma | Judo (Life Time) |
| 8. | V.R. Beedu | Athletics (Life Time) |
TURNING ARCHIVES
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in Sports and Games is the highest honor of India in sports. The award is named after former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, who was in the office from 1984 to 1989. It is awarded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports annually. The sportsmen are selected by a committee authorized by the Ministry and is honored for their “spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years” at international level.
Every year on August 29, on the occasion of national sports day, the National Sports Awards ceremony is held, in the honor of the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. But this year the award ceremony will be organized on September 25. The change was done because of the clash of dates with the Asian Games, which finished on September 2 in Jakarta.