Delhi High Court Urges Sports Ministry to Reassess Kathuniya's Khel Ratna Nomination
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Synopsis
The Delhi High Court has directed the Sports Ministry's selection committee to reassess Yogesh Kathuniya's nomination for the Khel Ratna Award, following his petition after being overlooked despite his impressive medal tally at international events.
Key Takeaways
- Delhi HC calls for reconsideration of Kathuniya's Khel Ratna nomination.
- Kathuniya is a two-time Paralympic medallist.
- Justice Sachin Datta leads the request for credentials review.
- He has a total of six international medals.
- Kathuniya expresses his discontent over favoritism in nominations.
New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court has instructed the Sports Ministry's selection committee to re-evaluate the nomination of Yogesh Kathuniya, a two-time Paralympic medallist, for the prestigious Khel Ratna Award.
Kathuniya, a para-discus thrower who secured silver medals at both the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics, approached the Delhi HC after being excluded from the Khel Ratna nominations.
A panel led by Justice Sachin Datta mandated the selection committee to undertake a thorough review of Kathuniya’s qualifications and arrive at a decision.
The bench emphasized that should Kathuniya meet the eligibility criteria, appropriate measures would be initiated to bestow the Khel Ratna Award upon him.
The 27-year-old athlete expressed his disappointment on social media, raising concerns regarding the criteria used for awarding the Khel Ratna to athletes.
With a total of six international medals, including two silver medals from the Paralympics, two silver and a bronze from the Para-athletics World Championships, and a silver from the Asian Para Games, Kathuniya is bewildered by the apparent lack of acknowledgment of his accomplishments.
“I was disheartened to find my name missing from the awards list. It appears that many have received the Khel Ratna well before me despite not having as many points. I have consistently performed for the past 2-3 years, earning three medals in the World Championships, one in the Asian Games, and one medal each in the Paris and Tokyo Paralympics. Hence, my points should also be significant,” he stated in a video shared on the social media platform X.
Kathuniya, who was awarded the Arjuna Award by President Ram Nath Kovind in November 2021, is seeking clarity from the Sports Ministry regarding their decision to exclude him.
“This is a matter with the Sports Ministry, but they have yet to reach out to me. It feels like clear favoritism; those with better public relations are awarded. Players like myself are often overlooked. Such behavior is demoralizing for an athlete who has dedicated eight years to serving the nation. Regardless of my personal goals, I am representing India. My victories are for India, and my losses reflect on the country,” Kathuniya shared with IANS on December 28.
“I won’t wait for next year; I will approach the High Court and file a case. I have the highest aggregate marks and demand a written explanation for my exclusion,” he added.
