Ace air rifle shooter Anjali Bhagwat slammed the Arjuna Awards committee for nominating athlete K.M. Beenamol for this year's Rajiv GandhiKhel Ratna award ahead of her, saying its decision showed it was not performance alone which was the criteria for the award.
"I had a wonderful 2002. I was ranked number one in the world and bagged four Commonwealth gold medals, a silver inthe World Cup and in the Asian Games. If this performance is not enough then I cannot say (what determines the winner),"Anjali said.
Anjali said she was disappointed initially but now she had realised that winning the Khel Ratna was not her "ultimategoal".
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"I have also become used to such disappointments now," said Anjali, who is the only woman shooter to have qualifiedfor the Athens Olympics next year.
"Last year too I was recommended for the Khel Ratna by my association. But the award went to (shooter) Abhinav Bindrawho made an individual application.
"They (Bindras) are rich and influential people. No one has the guts to speak against them," the firebrand shootercharged.
Asked if her preparations for the Olympics would be affected by this controversy, Anjali said, "I am not bothered. I do notgive importance to petty things".
On reports that the committee had decided to award Beenamol because Anjali could always bag the honour next year,she said, "I don't know. "Shaayad agle saal koi aur Beenamol paida ho jaaye (maybe another Beenamol will crop up nextyear)."
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The Arjuna Awards have been shrouded in controversy ever since the committee, chaired by former footballer P.K.Banerjee, recommended more names for the 2002-03 awards than stipulated and the matter became worse after the list wasleaked to the media.
Even as speculation abounded with contradictory reports in newspapers and television channels, the committeereconvened here yesterday to prune the list as per the government guidelines.
The committee, which had orginally shortlisted Anjali alongwith Beenamol for the award, decided to recommend thename of the Asian Games gold medallist for the country's highest sport award after the meeting.
Beenamol was chosen because she was the original choice, was one of the justifications given by a member ofthecommittee.
The middle-distance runner won a gold each in the 800m and 400m relay besides a silver inthe 400m at the Busan Asian Gameslast year.
Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association of India also said it was "disappointed" with the committee for ignoring theachievements of Anjali.
"The NRAI is disappointed to know that the committee for awards has not recommended the name of Anjali Bhagwat for theRajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. In all fairness, the NRAI feels that Anjali's name should have been recommended for theaward," a statement issued by the association said.
PTI
