New Delhi : The Arjuna Awards selection committee, headed by former India captain Kapil Dev, Tuesday decided against making any additions to the list of 15 athletes it had picked up last week for the prestigious sports award.
The committee was forced to review the list after the furore over choosing boxer Jai Bhagwan — over 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist boxer Manoj Kumar — and squash player Anaka Alankamony.
The Kapil Dev-led committee discussed seven athletes Tuesday and unanimously agreed that there was no need to make any changes to the list. The sports ministry is likely at accept the recommendations for the sports awards slated for Aug 29.
Jiji Thomson, Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general who was part of the Awards committee, said it was unanimously agreed that there was no need of any new names.
“It was unanimously agreed that new names were not needed. Every year there will be a case of some deserving athlete being left out and they will get when their turn comes later,” said Thomson.
The panel was also slammed by Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra after seven of its players were overlooked for the award.