Spoil Sport With Awards

Context: The procedure of giving awards under the heads of Arjuna and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (RGKRA) is marred with issues, and should be redressed to preserve the sanctity of sporting awards and athletes. 

Problems/Issues in Sports Award System

• Multiplicity of Awards: Earlier the RGKRA were given to a single athlete (barring exceptions) for his/her consistent world-class performances.

• • • In 2016, it was given to 4 athletes.
    • In 2020, it has been awarded to 5 athletes.

• Arbitrariness in the selection of winners:

• While Manika Batra has been awarded Khel Ratna for her gold medal performance in Commonwealth Games, even when she has not yet qualified for Tokyo Olympics 2021.
• Boxer, Amit Panghal, ranked 1st  by Indian Olympic Committee, has been denied even an Arjuna award 
• Point system of Arjuna award: counts for 80% of the weightage for the award and the remaining 20% is decided by a committee. 
• Point system ranks the Asian Games just above the Commonwealth Games in terms of points, leading to lopsided results in winner selection.
• The Asian Games have world-beaters in disciplines like table tennis, badminton and archery, but have comparatively easier draws in swimming or athletics.
•  The Commonwealth Games feature top-class runners and swimmers but have weaker fields in shooting, wrestling and badminton. 
• The commercialisation of Sports: Huge incentive associated with the awards encourage athletes, their coaches and federations to lobby for the official sporting awards or starting their sports academy.
• An Arjuna Award often means loans being paid off, a better job and, perhaps, even a chance for starting an academy. 

Conclusion: Indian sport needs to put in place a more transparent and well-designed awards system, which does not become a victim of lobbyists.