The sports ministry defended its decision to name only 17 athletes for the Arjuna awards on Tuesday, out of 24 recommended by the selection committee. The ministry stated that awards cannot be given based on reputation alone.
- The Sports Ministry justified selecting 17 athletes for the Arjuna Awards instead of the recommended 24.
- The ministry emphasized that awards must be earned through performance, not just reputation.
- No athlete was chosen for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award this year.
- The ministry expressed satisfaction with the arrangements for the World Championships, learning from past event shortcomings.
New Delhi: A day after announcing the list of national sports awardees, the sports ministry on Tuesday strongly defended its decision to trim down the list of athletes for the Arjuna Awards. The ministry clarified that awards cannot be doled out on reputation alone and must be earned. This move came after the selection committee had recommended 24 athletes, but the ministry ultimately chose only 17 for the prestigious award.
Justification for Arjuna Award Reduction
A senior ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "We agree it’s not the convention. Usually, the names forwarded by the selection panel are final, but this time we decided to cut the flab. Arjuna awards have to be earned, they can’t be given on reputation." He further added that the ministry has the final say on awards and "may continue to exercise its right in future."
No Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award This Year
Significantly, no athlete was named for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour, for 2025. This marks the first time since 2014 that the Khel Ratna will not be awarded. The ministry official commented, "We wanted to preserve the integrity of the awards. These awards can’t be given for the sake of it. The committee’s recommendations are not binding on the ministry."
Selected and Excluded Athletes
The athletes named for the Arjuna Award include badminton doubles players Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, track and field athletes Tejaswin Shankar and Muhammed Ajmal, boxer Narender Berwal, and chess Grandmasters Vidit Gujarati and Divya Deshmukh. On the other hand, gymnast Pranati Nayak, kho kho player Nirmala Bhati, polo player Padmanabh Singh, shooter Mehuli Ghosh, table tennis player Sutirtha Mukherjee, wrestler Sonam Malik, and yogasana athlete Aarti Pal were excluded after re-evaluation.
Satisfaction with World Championships Arrangements
The ministry official also expressed satisfaction with the arrangements for the ongoing badminton World Championships in the capital. Following the controversy-hit India Open in January—which was marred by severe air pollution, repeated incidents of bird droppings on the court, and monkey sightings within the arena—the arrangements for the World Championships have earned praise from domestic and international shuttlers. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) spent ₹20 crore on repair work. "We took over the preparation for World Championships from the very beginning and worked towards delivering a world-class tournament. What happened during the India Open was unfortunate, and there were surely lapses on our part. But we left no stone unturned this time," the ministry official said.
Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2027 (VBYLD 2027) Kicks Off
The ministry also announced the commencement of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2027 (VBYLD 2027) with the Viksit Bharat Quiz. The inaugural quiz is open to individuals between 15-29 years of age until September 16. Previous installments saw approximately 30 lakh and later 50 lakh participants. "This time, we aim to take the number to 1 crore," the ministry stated. The four-stage filtering process, including district and state-level essay-writing competitions, will culminate with at least 25 candidates being selected to present their ideas at Bharat Mandapam next year (January 10-12).
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the Sports Ministry's decision to trim the Arjuna Award list signifies a potential shift towards a more stringent and performance-centric approach to national sports awards. This move, while potentially disappointing for some athletes, aims to uphold the prestige and sanctity of these honors, ensuring they are bestowed upon those who have demonstrably excelled, rather than those with established reputations alone. The ministry's assertion of its final say underscores its commitment to maintaining high standards and integrity in the award selection process.
The Sports Ministry's assertion of its role in upholding the integrity of awards is crucial, ensuring that the Arjuna Award is bestowed upon those who have truly excelled, rather than merely those with greater reputational standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many athletes were awarded the Arjuna Award this year?
- Why was the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award not given this year?
