New Delhi: This time there has been an unexpected delay in the announcement of National Sports Awards and sources in the Sports Ministry said that instead of distributing a large number of awards, they are being reviewed again to give them only to the deserving players. The selection committee for National Sports Awards had given its suggestions in December last year itself. But the ministry has not yet announced the winners and sources say it is being reviewed again.

“The recommendation for the Arjuna Award is being reconsidered,” a source said on Monday. The Ministry believes that the importance of these awards should not be reduced. He said, “It should not be the case that there is a glut of Arjun Award winning players everywhere and when they are asked about their achievements, they have nothing to show. Many cases then go to court and negative news also comes in the media.

Many times in the past, players have gone to court for not receiving awards. The Ministry believes that there should be no need for the selection committee to choose the winners and there should be a fixed criteria of marks so that only eligible players apply.

The source said, “It should be like the prize money that if you have won an Olympic medal, there is no need to fill any form. You have to get Rs 75 lakh. Similarly, deserving players do not need to be assessed by the committee.” Normally these awards are given on August 29, the birthday of great hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, but in the last few years, this has not happened due to tournaments and availability issues.