The World boxing champion in the lightweight category Saweety Boora and two-time Olympian and ace swimmer Sajan Prakash have been nominated by India's Sports Ministry for the Arjuna Awards 2024. (More Sports News)
These two names were not included in the original list of nominated athletes by the 12-member awards selection committee. But they were chosen for the prestigious Arjuna Award after both athletes expressed their grievances.
Double Olympic medallist, Manu Bhaker and World Chess ๊Champion Dommaraju Gukesh's names were also added for the highest sporting honour in the country, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, after taking suo moto cognizance.
𒆙Sports Ministry faced backlash for omitting these two sports icons' names but Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya looked himself into the matter and took cognizance of their names.
🗹Both athletes were disappointed that their names were not recommended for the Arjuna Award. Saweety became the world champion in March 2023, while Prakash has long pursued the award without success, despite being the first Indian swimmer to qualify for the Olympics with an 'A' standard time in 2021.
𒆙At 31, Prakash became the first swimmer in 12 years to win the Arjuna Award. He emphasized that swimming, one of the toughest sports, has often gone unrecognized in India. He dedicated his award to the Indian swimming community, stating, “This award is a high point in my career and will motivate me to work harder for my future goals.”
🌸Prakash is now focused on the 2026 Asian Games, declaring, “I am fit and training hard for the final push.”
