![]() ![]() They don''t get the petrol pump licences of today, for example. Also, I appeal to the government to compensate those winners in the 1960s and 70s, who did not get any cash award alongwith the statue and citation. What should be done is that half the awards should be given for the previous year''s performances and the other half to clear off the backlog. I know of over 300 hockey players with Olympic medals in Punjab alone. Do you think 15 should be the optimum number for the Awards each year? The committee should strive not to go beyond the stipulated number. Let the best man in a team game be given the Award. Institute different awards within the purview of the Arjuna, if need be, depending on the sport where the individual''s performance counts more even in a team game. When India''s top sportsmen are being awarded the procedure can be more elaborate so that only the deserving get it. Similarly, the standard of hockey at the Commonwealth is much lower than the Asian Games, so the grading system doesn''t always work. But in the points system, the Asian Games are higher. The standard of the Asian Games do not match up to it. For instance, the standard of athletics at the Commonwealth Games is almost world class. Team and individual sport must also be differentiated. But even here points should be different for different sports. The Olympics come first, then the Asian Games and finally the Commonwealth Games. What, in your view, is the best way out? With the government refusing to increase the number of awards, how should one tackle this? There should not be a uniform grading system for all sports. The committee seems burdened by the weight of our performances in the Commonwealth and Asian Games last year. But I repeat that the committee should not allow itself to be pressurised. ![]() I haven''t seen the list, so I can''t comment. Is it all going back to the old times again? I have only read news reports about such things. Sir, after the relative quiet of last year, this year too has seen the committee bungling by announcing more names than the stipulated 15. I am happy that it has sparked off this change. Otherwise, it would have been the ultimate humiliation. If I fully deserved it, the other person should also deserve it. I wasn''t willing to stand on the same podium with such sportsmen. Around that time sportsmen were doing the rounds of the ministry to get the Award. The awarding should be as simple as: you do well, the government calls you and awards you. The Award had already seen many undeserving names making the list. Furthermore, I wasn''t willing to stand alongside those who were tainted by dope. Two years ago, my name was added with the rest since it was felt it would add sheen to the Awards. degree first, and then offer me the Matriculation. ![]() But even that wouldn''t have looked right. I should have been given the Arjuna when it was instituted in 1961 itself, after my Rome Olympics performance. When I won the Commonwealth Games gold in 1958, I was given a higher award, the Padma Shree. Would you accept the Award now if it was offered again by the new committee? After all, you had rejected it because you were not happy with the procedure. If that happens it is not doing its job properly. Yet, I believe that the committee should do its job and not bow to any political pressure. Earlier out of the 5,000 Awards given almost 3,000 were bogus. They are real sportsmen, and such a committee would ensure that only the deserving are awarded. Last year it was headed by Prakash Padukone and this year by PK Banerjee. I am happy that the Arjuna Awards are now being chosen by a committee which comprises eminent sportspersons. ![]() First of all, do you feel vindicated with the change in the format for selecting Arjuna Awardees? It was because of your refusal to accept the Award two years ago that the procedure was changed and even a new committee was formed. ![]()
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