Two of country’s most significant and consistent performers across their genre, Pankaj Advani and Jwala Gutta, have shown their disappointment on social media, after being snubbed from receiving the coveted Padma Bhushan award.
On Wednesday, eight of the many sports personality were bestowed with the second-highest civilian award Padma Shri, including the likes of cricketer Virat Kohli and Rio Games heroes Dipa Karmakar and Deepa Malik.
Pankaj Advani, who recently won the National Billiard Championship, was congratulated by the Sports Minister of India Vijay Goel on twitter saying he (Advani) is synonyms to winning and also wished him best of luck for the future.
Congratulations @PankajAdvani247! Winning is synonymous to you. Best wishes for future games/championships ?✌️ https://t.co/kaMKmp2ZtB
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) January 25, 2017
In reply, the 14-time world champion and two-times Asian gold medallist said, he has done enough to get the Padma Bhushan, and if since he has been ignored again, he doesn’t know what to come up with.
Thank you sir. Just feel after 16 world titles and 2 Asian games golds if I’m ignored for a padma bhushan, don’t know what more I need to do https://t.co/kI1pmFL0M9
— Pankaj Advani (@PankajAdvani247) January 25, 2017
Jwala Gutta, who has won the National Badminton Championships fifteen times voiced her concern for being ignored yet again. In an image she uploaded on twitter, Gutta said she had applied for this prestigious award, knowing her contribution she has made in Badminton in the country for over 15 years.
She further added she didn’t have any recommendations or credentials to move her case ahead, which is indeed sad.
— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) January 25, 2017
The list of sports personality who received Padma Shri is: Virat Kohli (Cricket), Shekar Naik (Cricketer), Vikas Gowda (Discus Throw), Deepa Malik (Athletics), Mariyappan Thangavelu (Athletics), Dipa Karmakar (Gymnastics), PR Sreejesh (Hockey) and Sakshi Malik (Wrestling).