Paralympic medallists would be considered for Khel Ratna award: Vijay Goel
After India’s spectacular show at the 2016 Paralympics, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel has announced on Thursday that para-athletes would also be considered for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. The move comes after the contingent’s good show of four medals at the Rio Paralympics.
2016 Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik were among the four recipients of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award this year. However, the four para-athletes who garnered medals at the Rio Games had not been considered for the awards this year. Ensuing widespread calls for honouring the para-athletes as well, Sports Minister Goel has promised during a celebratory dinner that there would be no exception made for the paralympians and that they would definitely be in the running for the prestigious sports award.
The Sports Minister also went on to laud the efforts of the recently-returned paralympians and told them, “You are the motivators for everyone.” He also encouraged them to produce the same spirited medal-winning show the next time as well.
The paralympians have been accorded a warm welcome on their return from Rio and were hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Union Sports Minister, who is trying his best to popularize the paralympics sports, sounded very pleased with it.
He recalled how silver- medal winner Deepa Malik had been very upbeat before leaving for Brazil and how he had been confident about her chances. Malik had sought for an interaction with the Prime Minister before her departure which was duly arranged. “The Prime Minister will receive you,” was Goel’s response to the 45-year-old’s request, the Sports Minister said as he reminisced the days before the athletes embarked on their historic Rio sojourn.
‘Khelo India Khelo’ campaign coming up
On the sidelines of the event, Goel also revealed new plans to boost sports across the country. He announced that a ‘Khelo India Khelo’ campaign and a sports talent search website will be launched soon. The latter will give a golden opportunity to any sports talent from any corner of India to upload his details and video and seek support.
Not only that, the minister also believes that a sports summit should also take place even though he did underline the fact that sports is not yet a profitable venture.
During the celebratory dinner, Goel heaped praise on national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand’s academy too. His enthusiastic exclamation of “What an academy,” suggested further how impressed he was by it during a recent visit. Rio Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu also amazed the minister with her dedication and diligence. The 21-year-old reported for practice just a day after her return and the minister singled that out to point out her incredible commitment.