"Same gold, same pride, why not same award?": Paralympic Archer Harvinder Singh alleges discrimination amid Manu Bhaker row
Harvinder Singh's coach Jiwanjot Singh confirmed that he had applied for the top prize. “I think being a Paralympics gold medalist, he deserves a Khel Ratna, especially after he had applied for the same,” said coach.
Amid Manu Bhaker row, now Paralympic Champion Archer Harvinder Singh has alleged discrimination in sports awards. Indian archer Singh who won gold medal at Paris Paralympics has alleged partisan behaviour in distributing sports awards.
Singh wrote on X. "Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Gold medallists were awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, but what about Paris 2024 Paralympic Gold medalists? Same competition, same gold, same pride — why not the same award?"
Harvinder Singh's coach Jiwanjot Singh confirmed that he had applied for the top prize. “I think being a Paralympics gold medalist, he deserves a Khel Ratna, especially after he had applied for the same,” said coach.
After winning bronze medal at Tokyo Games, Harvinder secured his maiden gold at Paris Olympics. Following India's gold-winning performance at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, shooter Avani Lekhara, javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shuttler Pramod Bhagat were honoured with the Khel Ratna along with Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
In order to mitigate, an official from Sports Ministry has said that list is not confirmed and it is yet to be finalised. Earlier ace shooter and double medalist Manu Bhaker's absence from the nomination list which included the only men's hockey player Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic gold-winning high jumper Praveen Kumar, has caused controversy.