If you’re wondering that India’s Paralympics gold medallists would be awarded the country’s top sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, chances are that might not happen.
BCCL
In the current setting, an Olympic medallist directly qualifies for the Khel Ratna award during an Olympic year but the same isn’t certain for the Paralympic winners, according to India’s Sports Minister Vijay Goel.
AP
“Our Paralympians have made India proud winning four medals so far in Rio Paralympics. But on the issue of awards, till now there has been no decision on any such policy for paralympians. We will take up the matter,” Goel told reporters during the unveiling of the logo of the upcoming Kabaddi World Cup, to be held in Ahmedabad next month.
AP
Indian Paralympians have so far won four medals (two golds, one silver and one bronze). After Mariyappan Thangavelu (gold in men’s T42 High Jump), Varun Bhati (bronze in men’s T42 High Jump) and Deepa Malik (silver in women’s shotput F53 event) won medals in their respective events at the Rio Paralympics, javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia on Wednesday bettered his own world record to win his career’s second gold in the F46 event.
In what looks like a watershed year for the Paralympics, it will be a great shame if these athletes who’ve made the nation proud don’t get their due.