The Indian boxer has been bestowed with Arjuna Award by the sports ministry
Indian boxer Manoj Kumar will be finally honoured with Arjuna Award
New Delhi: Forced to take the legal route after being denied the honour, Indian boxer Manoj Kumar will be finally bestowed the Arjuna Award as the sports ministry accepted his nomination.
Manoj, a 2010 Common-wealth Games gold medallist, said that he was informed of the ministry’s decision on Wednesday. “Mr Onkar Kedia, joint secretary (sports), informed my brother Rajesh of the development last evening. But the information reached me only this morning,” Manoj, who would be competing in the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, was quoted as saying.
The controversial recommendation of boxer Jai Bhagwan for the Arjuna Awards had led to Manoj approaching the ministry officials, who, he said, had assured him that his name would be added to the list of 15 athletes in a review meeting.
But after being snubbed for a second time in the review meeting, Manoj took the legal route and filed a case in the Delhi high court.“It is not pleasant at all that I had to approach the court but there was no option left. I am glad that I have been proved right and it has lifted my morale ahead of the Asian Games,” said the light welterweight category boxer. “I am thankful to my elder brother Rajesh, who fought alone for me against a system which was bent on proving us wrong. It is sad that I had to fight like this for something that was rightfully mine,” he added.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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