The National Sports Awards are usually presented on August 29, the birth anniversary of hockey legend Dhyan Chand. For many years, this was a fixed date to present the awards, be it the Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award or the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement. Three years ago, the Sports Ministry had decided to make a change, that in years when the Asian Games or Olympics were held, the award presentation dates would be changed. It made sense, as if the Asian Games or the Olympics were not over by August, then rushing through the process and picking the winners caused a lot of problems.
Last year as well, India did extremely well at the Asian Games and Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, winning 107 and 111 medals respectively. So, when the awards committee met in 2023 and poured over the names, there was a lot of work involved. Given the controversies and heartburn in previous years, where athletes were squabbling and even went to court after they had not been nominated, it became ugly. Frankly speaking, the whole process of picking the award winners is on the basis of points allocated. It may appear a foolproof system and now acceptable but there will always be room to interpret, as some ‘deserving winners’ don’t find a mention in the final list when notified.
This year, with India winning six medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and 29 medals at the Paralympics, of which seven are gold, how does one decide on award winners? As yet, the notification has not come from the Sports Ministry, after which the National Sports Federations, BCCI included, will send in nominations. For some awards, athletes and coaches can make a direct application as well, for which as well there is a prescribed format.
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It is no secret, cricketers getting awards has been kept at a minimum. If you go through the list of Khel Ratna winners, the number of cricketers figuring in it is low. Of course, legends like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Mithali Raj have won it. Talking specifically about the highs, since India won the ICC T20 World Cup this year in the West Indies, one must look at the stars who performed. If it was runs scored, Rohit Sharma amassed 257. As he has already won the Arjuna award and Khel Ratna, he can’t get the same award again. Then comes Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm fast bowler whose 17 wickets was very important. Will the BCCI nominate him for the Arjuna Award or the Khel Ratna remains to be seen. Sample this, someone proven like Mohammed Shami got the Arjuna Award so late in 2023.
One man who really deserves to be an outright winner for the Dronacharya Award for excellence in coaching is Rahul Dravid. As coach of the Indian team, Dravid ensured India entered the ICC World Cup (ODI) final last year in November, where they lost to Australia. It is well-known, Rohit Sharma had approached Dravid and he continued as coach. Results in the ICC T20 World Cup were a delight, as India grabbed a big trophy after a long gap.
Surely, the name of Dravid, who has moved on from the India coach job deserves to be nominated. He will win the Dronacharya Award hands down. In the past, people in the awards committee were fine even if cricketers had been ignored. The reason given was “cricketers keep getting awards and rewards.” That was illogical, and once, a well known former international star opener in the awards committee said he was OK even if no cricketer was picked and two Arjuna Awards went to track and field!
It is well-known, cricket is now very much part of the Asian Games and will be a medal sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. There is no way the awards committee for 2024, as and when it is formed, can ignore cricket. If Dravid is ignored as a Dronacharya or Arshdeep does not get the Arjuna Award, that would be very sad. Cricket cannot be left out and the BCCI must decide on the names in time.
Yes, in the year of the Olympics, obvious names which will come up for nomination and discussion will include Manu Bhaker, who made history by winning two medals in the Paris Olympics and finished fourth in the sports pistol event. Whether she is an obvious choice or not as Khel Ratna, the committee can decide. One cannot ignore the names of Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kushale. If Manu was brilliant, how does one ignore the efforts put in by hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, who stole the show in the Paris Olympics and is excelling in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy as well. He is definitely an obvious choice for the Khel Ratna. The tricky part is, does the committee decide on only Khel Ratna or it can be shared?
There have been instances in the past, where the Khel Ratna has been shared. If that is used as a criteria, names of gold medal winners from the Paralympics also have to be factored. One thing is clear, an athlete first has to win the Arjuna Award and then get into reckoning for the Khel Ratna. Someone like 2004 Athens Olympics silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore also had to first receive the Arjuna Award and then wait for a year to get the Khel Ratna. Even as celebrations post the Paralympics are now receding, the awards committee must be formed at the earliest.
And yes, nobody has forgotten javelin king Neeraj Chopra. He has already won all the sports awards! Unless something bigger comes for his silver medal at Paris 2024 in the Padma Awards category. That is an altogether different award application process — online.
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