Sidelining Kothajit

- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 21, 2012 -

In an unprecedented manner, Union Ministry of Sports has announced the names of 25 sportspersons for conferring Arjuna Awards, 2012 in recognition of their outstanding achievements in National sports while there would be two recipients of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country's highest honour given for achievement in sports, this year.

Normally, Arjuna Awards are given to not more than 15 sportspersons while Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to only one person in any calendar year.

But keeping in view of the outstanding performance of an increasing number of Indian sportspersons over the years in various sporting events including Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games, the number of Arjuna Awardees and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees has been increased with proper justification and approval of the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

So, this time, we would be seeing 25 sportspersons including three of our own Native players, namely Archer Laishram Bombayla, weightlifter Ngangbam Soniya and Wushu player Mayanglambam Bimoljit Singh brimming with pride while accepting Arjuna Awards from the President of India during an impressive ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29 alongside two Olympic medalists, shooter Vijay Kumar and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutta, who would be honoured with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards.

All these changes and relaxation in the existing schemes of conferring awards to outstanding sportspersons have been made to encourage the sportspersons.

On the other hand, we have a Chief Minister, who also holds the additional portfolio of Sports, going around tendering apology to state Olympian Khadangbam Kothajit and his family members for the cold shoulder treatment given even to the extent of not inviting them to the function for felicitating other State Olympians.

It's beyond our comprehension how could there be any question over the status of Kothajit, when he was very much a part and parcel of the hockey squad selected to represent India in the just concluded London Olympics.

Yes, he may be in the stand-by and got no chance to go out in the field to play, but that does not change the fact of Kothajit being an Olympian.

In fact, at the time of announcing the names of players for Indian hockey squad, many people praised inclusion of the mid-fielder who had already made his mark in the National Games held at Ranchi in February 2011.

Kothajit also proved his worth when he was selected for the National camp, thus taking him a step further towards realization of his London dream like others.

As in the earlier case of announcing cash reward only for MC Mary Kom, Olympic bronze medallist in women boxing while sidelining other State Olympians, which was ultimately rectified; questioning the Olympian status of Kothajit and then snubbing him at the felicitation of State Olympians, has once again exposed the shortsightedness of the state administration and the bureaucratic tangle towards promotion of sports.

Of course, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh may have tendered an apology and given assurance over undoing the wrongs, but such shortsightedness and callosity could never auger well for the future of sports in the state.