This a very valid question is being asked by a sports celebrity unfortunately not from the cricket. He is the Bronze medal winner of the Bejing Olympics 2008 a not very distant event.
Sushil Kumar and Vijender both Bronze Medalist in boxing were being considered for the Padma Shri award, an award which is coveted by all players who have won medals for India, but their names were not in the final list.
Sushil Kumar was highly disappointed wondering as to why they have to plead for a PadmaShri even after winning an olympic medal. Vijender was very disappointed also along with Akhil Kumar another boxer.
As per Vijender his dreams were shattered, he very pertinently wanted to know the criteria regarding the eligibility of these awards and how they were unable to fulfill them. In fact he is so disappointed that even after giving a sterling performance he would like to change professions. He feels only cricket is recognised here, Dhoni and Harbhajjan are being given PadmaShris.
Others from the boxing fraternity has also voiced their disappointment on this lapse. The coach of Sushil Kumar was expecting Padma Awards for Sushil. They are of the view that these boxers have brought fame and recognition for India in the World’s Boxing Community and it is a shame that they are ignored in their own country.
It is really disappointing that after practicing in conditions where only basic necessities were being made available to them, they managed to bring home Olympic medals, the most prestigious medals of the sporting world, they are not given their due in their own country.
I believe what we should be asking for is do they deserve Padma Shri awards just on the basis of one medal?
Should we call that a fair judgment of their abilities to give them the awards?
The Padma awards are given to citizens who have contributed consistently in their respective fields over a period of time.
These guys are yet to win a tournament elsewhere. We should wait for some time where we could see them improve more and win.
