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No changes to original Arjuna Awards list

The controversial recommendation of boxer Jai Bhagwan and squash player Anaka Alankamony for the prestigious Arjuna Awards stands after the Kapil Dev-led selection committee met again on Tuesday and decided not to make any changes in the original 15-athlete list. Jiji Thomson, Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general who was part of the Awards committee, said they discussed seven athletes in the review meeting but it was unanimously agreed that no changes were needed in the earlier shortlist.

The sports ministry is unlikely to turn down the panel recommendations before approving the names for the ceremony to be held later in the month. ‘The committee decided against adding any name for the Awards. It was an hour long meeting and we all agreed that the 15 names shortlisted earlier were deserving for the honour. Having said that, there will always be a case when a deserving candidate misses out and his or her turn comes later,’ Thomson said.

Choosing Bhagwan and ignoring 2010 CWG gold medallist boxer Manoj Kumar had led to a controversy and forced the committee to reconsider its decision. 20-year-old squash player Alankamony’s inclusion in the list had also raised eyebrows.
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