Paralympics gold medalist questions disparity in Khel Ratna awards
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New Delhi: Why is there disparity in awarding all Paris Games 2024 gold winners with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award as compared to Tokyo Olympics, Paralympic gold-winning archer of Paris Games 2024 Harvinder Singh asked.
“Discrimination in sports,” Singh wrote on X. “Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Gold medalists were awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, but what about Paris 2024 Paralympic Gold medalists? Same competition, same gold, same pride — why not the same award?” IANS quoted.
The 2020 Tokyo bronze medallist delivered a flawless performance in Paris to bag gold in the final, defeating Lukasz Ciszek of Poland with a commanding 6-0 scoreline.
With this victory, Singh became the first Indian archer to win a gold medal in either the Paralympics or the Olympics. He also achieved the distinction of being the only archer to secure medals in consecutive Paralympic editions, a feat that underscores his exceptional talent and determination.
In 2021, Tokyo Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and Tokyo Paralympics gold-medallists Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil and Pramod Bhagat were awarded the Khel Ratna award after their achievement.
Paris Olympics double-bronze medallist Manu Bhaker's name, too, has not been recommended by the National Sports Awards selection committee despite her historic achievements at the Paris Olympics.
National Archery coach and Dronacharya Awardee Jiwanjot Singh Teja also took to social media to plead Harvinder’s case for the prestigious award.
“In the year 2021, all Olympic medal winners and Paralympic gold medal winners were honoured with the Khel Ratna, and it is truly inspiring to see the government continue to recognize the immense contributions of our athletes. However, I understand that the policy may have now changed, which brings me to request your kind attention towards Mr. Harvinder Singh's exceptional achievements.