The Rowing Federation of India president Rajlaxmi Singh Deo found fault with the Union Sports Ministry in the selection of nominees for the Dronacharya and Arjuna awards.
In a letter addressed to the Union Minister Ajay Maken, a copy of which is available with The Hindu , Rajlaxmi said they were distressed to note that “the discrimination and injustice meted out by the concerned officials of your Ministry to rowing, which has consistently delivered medals for the country against the stiffest opposition in international competition.”
“We understand that the various committees entrusted to recommend names of Arjuna and Dhyanchand awardees, have submitted their recommendations to your office for approval. My federation notes with great anguish that rowing does not figure in the names recommended by the above committees,” the RFI president noted in the letter.
“I have attached the achievements of the two rowers — Arjuna award for Saji Thomas (winner of four gold, five silver and four bronze medals including two silver medals in the Guangzhou Asiad) and Dhyanchand award for Johnson Xavier — to judge for yourself whether they are deserving cases or not as compared to the four disciplines mentioned in the award list,” the RFI chief appealed.— Special Correspondent
