Without restoring credibility, Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards will continue to face questions
Indian Express·2h ago·Neutral
What Happened
India's Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards face credibility questions due to inconsistent selection processes. The sports ministry halted a list of 24 Arjuna awardees, exceeding the maximum of 15. Past decisions, including awarding Khel Ratna to 11 athletes when Neeraj Chopra won Olympic gold, and omitting Manu Bhaker initially, raised concerns. Vague criteria and influence from federations and state governments create an uneven playing field. Experts call for transparent frameworks and clear eligibility standards.
Key Entities
Khel Ratna AwardArjuna AwardsVirat KohliNeeraj ChopraManu BhakerIndian sports ministryAparna PopatJhulan GoswamiGagan NarangM M Somaya