No change in Arjuna recommendation list

NEW DELHI: The Arjuna Awards selection committee, headed by former India captain Kapil Dev, Tuesday decided against making any additions to the list of 15 athletes it had picked up last week for the prestigious sports award.

The committee was forced to review the list after the furore over choosing boxer Jai Bhagwan — over 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist boxer Manoj Kumar — and squash player Anaka Alankamony.

The Kapil Dev-led committee discussed seven athletes Tuesday and unanimously agreed that there was no need to make any changes to the list. The sports ministry is likely at accept the recommendations for the sports awards slated for Aug 29.

Jiji Thomson, Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general who was part of the Awards committee, said it was unanimously agreed that there was no need of any new names. “It was unanimously agreed that new names were not a case of some deserving athlete being left out and they will get when their turn comes later,” said Thomson. The panel was also slammed by Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra after seven of its players were overlooked for the award.

CONSPIRACY TO KEEP MANOJ OUT: BROTHER Meanwhile, Manoj Kumar’s elder brother Rajesh Kumar, who also coached the Commonwealth Games gold medallist, on Tuesday lashed out at the selection committee for sticking to its stand of not considering the boxer for the Arjuna Awards and called it a “conspiracy”.

“They are not following the criteria, this is a conspiracy to keep Manoj out of the list. I will file an RTI tomorrow,” Rajesh said.

“I met the Sports Minister (Sarbananda Sonowal) on August 13. I spoke to Sports Secretary and Joint Secretary. I also met the sports minister’s personal secretary. On Saturday I had a meeting with (BJP MP) Anurag Thakur, gave him a presentation and expressed our grievances. They gave me hope but look the committee has again