Krishna Poonia cries foul over Khel Ratna

Zee Media Bureau/Manushree Chaumal

New Delhi: A day after Indian double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi was selected for the Khel Ratna, discus thrower Krishna Poonia has alleged that the selection criterion for the award was manipulated. Ronjan Sodhi was chosen for India`s highest sports award by a selection panel headed by Michael Ferreira, but a panel member has alleged an improper selection process for the award. It is learnt that Sodhi`s name was not there when the majority of members decided to vote for the Khel Ratna awardee but it was brought back later for consideration. A dejected Poonia was quoted saying that injustice has been done to her. "I am really disappointed with had happened in the selection panel meeting," she was quoted as saying by a news website. "I am more deserving also. I am the first woman athlete from the country to have won an individual Commonwealth Games gold medal and I finished sixth in the Olympics also," she added. Her plans to meet the Sports Minister to apprise him about the issue went in vain as she couldn't meet him today.