Former hockey Olympian Aslam Sher Khan on Friday urged Prime Minister to put off the Arjuna awards presentation ceremony slated for August 29 and demanded a thorough inquiry to find out on whose recommendations recipients of the awards were chosen.
The presentation of the awards needs to be put off in view of the controversy surrounding the selection, The former hockey captain told news persons in Bhopal. The inquiry has become necessary in view of former athlete Milkha Singh's allegation that many second-class players with little or almost no performance at the national or international levels have been chosen for the awards, he added.
It appears that the sports minister Uma Bharti had chosen to politicise the awards and this is something which does not augur well for sports, Khan said. Khan also strongly criticised centre's decision not to allow the national cricket team to participate in the Asian Test Championship.
Bureau Report