Why Mithali Raj richly deserves the Khel Ratna

The BCCI’s snub to the women’s cricket captain is a sign of gross discrimination

She may have won the adulation of millions and shattered the world record for scoring the most runs in ODI cricket during the recent World Cup in England, but Mithali Raj continues to get a raw deal from sports administrators back home. At least that is the impression one gets from the snub that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has given to India’s women’s cricket captain by not nominating her for the Khel Ratna this year. Not only has Ms Raj steered the team to two Cup finals (in 2005 and 2017), she was on the cusp of creating a world record for the most ODI runs at the time of the deadline to send in the nominations.

Although the deadline for nominations ended on April 30, in light of outstanding performances in subsequent time periods, there have been instances where other non-cricket associations have pushed for names well after the deadline. Last year, for instance, following their medal-winning exploits in Rio, the sports ministry had allowed for belated nominations for shuttler PV Sindhu , grappler Sakshi Malik, gymnast Dipa Karmakar and shooter Jitu Rai. It was the first time since the award was instituted in 1991 that the Khel Ratna was awarded to four sportspersons. This could have been done for Ms Raj, an athlete who was even felicitated by the Prime Minister himself.

Instead the, the panel appointed by the ministry of sports to shortlist those worthy of the Ratna has recommended two highly deserving men – former hockey captain Sardara Singh and Paralympic gold medallist Devendra Jhajharia -- for the honour. All this makes us wonder whether merit — the primary requisite to get the highest sporting honour in the country — is the only criterion for becoming a Khel Ratna? How many times does a woman athlete have to prove herself before the BCCI acknowledges that she deserves the same recognition as her male counterparts for outstanding achievements?