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Tejaswin Shankar criticises Sports Ministry over delayed Arjuna Awards review, calling it demotivating and disrespectful amidst ongoing re-evaluation of nominees.
The Arjuna Awards was last held in January 2025 (Picture credit: PTI)
Asian Games silver medallist athlete Tejaswin Shankar has said that the Sports Ministry should have reviewed the nominees for the Arjuna Award before the recommended list came out in December and not declared four months later that a review is being conducted, adding that it is a sign of disrespect.
The much-anticipated national sports awards have been delayed this year because of an ongoing re-evaluation process aimed at ensuring that only the most deserving athletes are honoured, according to reports.
As per reports, Hardik Singh was the sole recommendation for the Khel Ratna, while 24 names were shortlisted for the Arjuna Awards, including teenage chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh and Shankar.
“This should have been thought of ‘before’ the unofficial recommended names came out in December,” Shankar tweeted on Monday night.
This should have been thought of ‘before’ the unofficial recommended names came out in December. Not 4 months ‘after’ . This delay is not just demotivating to athletes and coaches but also a sign of disrespect. https://t.co/ztI73vR9Ap— Tejaswin Shankar (TJ) (@TejaswinShankar) April 13, 2026
The awards selection committee submitted its recommendations in December last year after a delayed nominations process, but the final list is yet to be announced as the ministry continues to reassess the proposals.
The ministry believes that a selection panel may not be necessary and that clear, points-based criteria should be established to ensure only deserving candidates are chosen, eliminating any ‘unworthy nominations’.
The awards were presented on August 29, the birth anniversary of hockey great Dhyan Chand, by the President. But this practice hasn’t been followed in recent years because of scheduling challenges and disruptions to the nominations process caused by major events.
In a first, a Yogasana athlete, Aarti Pal, was recommended for the Arjuna award as well, five years after the discipline was recognised by the Sports Ministry.
After transitioning to the decathlon, Shankar bagged a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games and followed it up with a silver and a bronze at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2025 and 2023.
April 14, 2026, 10:16 IST
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