Ignored for Arjuna, Chanu cries foul

New Delhi, August 5
Has the Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards selection committee erred by not recommending weightlifter Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu, who won a gold medal in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, for the Arjuna Award? It appears so as Manipur’s Chanu had more points than many athletes who have been recommended for the prestigious award this year.
Chanu has accumulated 45 points over the last four years, thanks to her CWG gold, two Commonwealth Championships gold medals and a bronze at the Asian Championships. She is also a five-time national champion. She was the only weightlifter in contention for the award but her credentials, including the CWG gold, were ignored.
For the record, Chanu is the only Glasgow CWG gold medallist who hasn’t been considered for the Arjuna Award by successive selection committees. All other Glasgow gold winners — 14, to be precise — have been given the award. Sukhen Dey, another weightlifter who won gold at Glasgow, isn’t eligible to apply since he was had been caught and sanctioned for a doping offence.
“I would say it’s a conspiracy against me. Some people don’t want me to get the Arjuna Award. Except me, all Glasgow gold medallists have got the award,” said Chanu. “This time I had more points than many others but still I wasn’t considered. Even wrestler Satyawart Kadian got the committee’s nod for his Glasgow silver but the committee didn’t find a gold medallist worth recommending.
“Since the Glasgow CWG, I have been tested for doping 15 times and I have always come out clean. I am part of the national camp as well. I have never skipped important championships. So, why I haven’t been considered?” asked a miffed Chanu.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation has lodged a complaint with the Ministry in this regard.