KHEL RATNA OF DISCONTENT

2010-11:

Shooter Gagan Narang publicly expressed his displeasure after being ignored for the award and threatened to skip the 2010 Commonwealth Games due to lack of motivation. He was quoted as saying that the Khel Ratna was like a film award that was distributed on the basis of public and media perception. He got the award in 2011..

2001-02:

Shooter Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat did not let up till she was declared joint recipient along with middle-distance runner KM Beenamol in 2002. Feeling that it was her last chance to stake a claim, she was quoted as saying that “there were no guarantees about winning even next year because ‘shaayad koi aur Beenamol paida ho jaaye (who knows, some other Beenamol will be there)’.” She also targeted Abhinav Bindra, saying “Last year too I was recommended for the Khel Ratna. But the award went to Abhinav…They (Bindras) are rich and influential people.”

2012-13:

Discus thrower and 2010 CWG gold-medallist, Krishna Poonia, unhappy with double-trap marksman Ronjan Sodhi being recommended, said her credentials were better and that she was more deserving. Sodhi had the achievements to back his claim, but with the issue becoming a major controversy, it was thought that the ministry would again buckle under pressure and find the middle path --- joint recipients. But the ministry stuck to its guns and Sodhi got the award.