Boxer Manoj moves Delhi High Court after being ignored

CHANDIGARH: After being ignored for the Arjuna Award and subsequently not getting a hearing from the sports ministry, Commonwealth Games goldmedallist boxer, Manoj Kumar, finally decided to move court. Manoj has filed a case against the ministry, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Arjuna Award selection committee in the Delhi High Court. The case will come up for hearing on Tuesday.

Manoj has contested that as per the points system (the new criteria introduced this year) he had the maximum number points among boxers who had applied for the award. But despite merit, the selection committee didn’t recommend his name. Manoj has also mentioned in his petition that he is still active in the sport and is a regular face in the Indian squad.

The grappler has stated that Jai Bhagwan, who has been recommended for the award, left the sport a couple of years ago, and that his (Bhagwan’s) achievements are lesser than his. Manoj has also stated that the selection committee had committed a goof-up, mistaking him for his namesake boxer, who had tested positive for a banned substance. HT had reported that the Arjuna panel had ignored his application because of the abovementioned reason.

After scrutiny of the Arjuna Award forms, there were three male boxers in the fray — Jai Bhagwan, Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar — and a lone woman pugilist, KC Lekha. Lekha missed out because all her achievements were before 2010, while the panel was considering achievements of the last four years. As for the points earned by the three male boxers, Manoj got 32, Jai Bhagwan 30 and Shiva Thapa 15. But Jai Bhagwan got the award.

Later, Manoj gave a representation that he had been ignored despite having maximum number points. The ministry reconvened a meeting of the Arjuna panel on August 19, raising hopes for Manoj. But in that meeting too his name was not considered.