After his gold medal at Paris 2024, Harvinder Singh was India’s flagbearer at the Paralympics 2024 Closing Ceremony. (PHOTO: Harvinder Singh X)
Paris Paralympics gold medalist Harvinder Singh has spoken up about the “discrimination” in handing out sports awards after he was left out from the Khel Ratna list. The para archer was miffed at the fact that the gold medallists from last Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021 were awarded Khel Ratna.
“‘Discrimination in sports,’” he posted on his X handle on Tuesday before elaborating: “Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medalists were awarded with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, but what about Paris 2024 Paralympic gold medalists? Same competition, same gold, same pride, why not same award?”
Harvinder Singh had won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games three years back. This time around in Paris, Harvinder Singh claimed his maiden gold medal after defeating Lukasz Ciszek of Poland in the final 6-0.
After Tokyo 2020, para-shooter Avani Lekhara, javelin thrower Sumit Antil and para-badminton star Pramod Bhagat were awarded the prestigious Khel Ratna along with Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
Dronacharya Award-winning coach also spoke out about the snub for Harvinder Singh.
“In the year 2021, all Olympic medal winners and Paralympic gold medal winners were honoured with the Khel Ratna, and it is truly inspiring to see the government continue to recognize the immense contributions of our athletes,” national archery coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja tweeted. “However, I understand that the policy may have now changed, which brings me to request your kind attention towards Harvinder Singh’s exceptional achievements.”
Jiwanjot added: “Harvinder Singh won 1st ever individual gold medal at the Paris Paralympics, along with a 4th-place finish in the recurve mixed team event. His historic feat of winning India’s first-ever individual bronze medal at the 2021 Paralympics has already placed him among the country’s elite athletes.”
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