Claiming to have been denied the coveted Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, wrestler Bajrang Punia put his case before the Sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore late on Thursday.
Punia claimed that Rathore, Athens Olympic Games silver medallist shooter, assured the wrestler that his case will be looked into by the awards committee.
Punia has been citing he was given 80 points by award committee, which is more than India cricket captain Virat Kohli (0) and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu (44), who finally got the nod of award committee.
Twenty four-year-old Punia won the gold in the recent Asian Games in Jakarta and Gold coast Commonwealth Games. He had also pocketed the yellow metal in 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and Glasgow Commonwealth Games. He also has a 2013 World Championship bronze medal to his credit.
Punia said that if he does not get favourable reply by Saturday, he said he might move the court.
"I was supposed to meet the Minister today but suddenly we got a call last evening for the meeting. I asked the minister about the reason for not considering me for the Khel Ratna. He said I didn't have enough points which is wrong. I have garnered more points than the two (Virat Kohli and Mirabai Chanu) who were nominated," said Punia.
"I have been wronged. I want justice. The Minister said he will look into the matter but there is hardly any time left for the award function. I will wait till evening for communication from the government's side. If I don't get a favourable reply by evening I will move court tomorrow," he added.
Highly-placed sources in the sports ministry, however, are not impressed by Punia's claim of getting higher points.
Though the minister has promised to look into the matter, it is unlikely that any changes will now be made at this stage. The ministry also put a tweet explaining why Kohli or Chanu's case can't be compared to that of Punia.
"Virat Kohli leads the ICC rankings in 2 out of 3 formats, while Mirabai Chanu is the only Indian currently a world champion in an Olympic sport," the tweet stated.
Bajrang was accompanied by his mentor Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt during the meeting.
When asked why is he contemplating legal action and not waiting for next time, Bajrang's reacted: "There can be no guarantee for the future in a sport like wrestling, which is a very physical. You never know when you can get injured. No sportsperson will take the risk of waiting for one more year."
In a departure from tradition, the National Sports Awards will be given away on September 25 this year instead of August 29, the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, because it clashed with the dates of the Asian Games, which ended earlier this month.
Yogeshwar Dutt's timely advise
Bajrang Punia is likely to back down from his stance of going to court against Sports Ministry's after his mentor Yogeshwar Dutt advised him to rather concentrate on his preparation for next month's World Championships. Yogeshwar said he has advised Bajrang to move forward and concentrate on his preparation for the World Championships. "It was injustice to Bajrang as he deserved the Khel Ratna this year. We met the Sports Minister yesterday and he said he will talk to the selection committee. But I have advised Bajrang against going to the court as it will hamper his World Championship preparations,\" Yogeshwar said..
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Bajrang Punia")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}