New Delhi, August 12
For the second time in the country’s history, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award will not be presented to any athlete this year as the 11-member selection committee headed by former India cricket captain Kapil Dev decided not to recommend any names for the award to the Sports Ministry.

Fifteen athletes have been recommended for the Arjuna Award this year. These are Akhilesh Varma (archery), Tintu Luka (athletics), HN Girisha (paralympics), V Diju (badminton), Geetu Ann Jose (basketball), Jai Bhagwan (boxing), R Ashwin (cricket), Anirban Lahiri (golf), Mamta Pujari (kabaddi), Saji Thomas (rowing), Heena Sidhu (shooting), Anaka Alankamany (squash), Tom Joseph (volleyball), Renubala Chanu (weightlifting) and Sunil Rana (wrestling).

Tennis star Somdev Devvarman, Glasgow Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in badminton PV Sindhu, athletes Vikas Gowda and Krishna Poonia, golfer Jeev Milkha Singh and paralympic javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia were shortlisted for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. It is India’s highest honour given for achievement in sports.

Instituted in 1991, this is just the second time after 1993-94 that the award would not be bestowed upon a sportsperson. It has been learnt that Chandigarh golfer Jeev Milkha Singh’s name was discussed for the coveted award, but the committee members failed to reach a consensus.

Shooter Ronjan Sodhi was the proud recipient of the Khel Ratna last year.

A committee member told The Tribune that none of the six names, except for golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, shortlisted for the award, found any favour with the selection panel.

“We discussed each and every name for the Khel Ratna, but the committee members were divided in their opinion. Kapil Dev had mentioned Jeev’s name and we had the longest discussion on his name, but the panel decided against conferring him the award,” said the member.

The member also informed that Somdev’s 2011 Arjuna Award went against him. “He did not achieve much success after his 2010 Commonwealth and Asian Games gold in the singles competition. The selection panel thought he should wait for the Khel Ratna.”