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 Anjali Bhagwat receives the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award from President A P J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi August 29.
Photo: RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images |
SPORT Another Arjuna Awards controversy There was more controversy when the nominees for the 2002-03 Arjuna Awards were announced. The newly constituted Arjuna Awards committee triggered off the ire by nominating more sportspersons for the awards than stipulated in the government guidelines. Matters got worse when the provisional list of nominees was leaked to the media. The government added its bit by declining to accept the list and asking the committee to cut down the nominations. Eventually, the sports ministry buckled down and accepted all the recommendations. Busan Asian Games 800 metres gold medallist Beenamol and ace shooter Anjali Vedpathak-Bhagwat were both conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, but the cash prize of Rs 500,000 which came with the award was split, leaving no place for hard feelings between the two. Earlier, after the nominations was leaked, Anjali had slammed the awards committee for nominating Beenamol for the Khel Ratna ahead of her, saying the decision showed that performance alone is not the criteria for winning an award. 'I had a wonderful 2002. I was ranked number one in the world and bagged four Commonwealth gold medals, a silver in the World Cup and in the Asian Games. If this performance is not enough then I cannot say (what determines the winner),' Anjali had thundered. Text: Harish Kotian Anjali slams Arjuna Awards committee Gagan Ajit Singh steals limelight at awards ceremony
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