The Boxing Federation of India has on Monday selected Amit Panghal world silver medalist and veteran Vikas Krishan for the Gandhi Khel Ratna awards.
The selection process of the yearly strictly based on the Olympic bound athletes. The BFI also nominated the world bronze medal winners [Lovlina Borgohain in the 69kg category, Simranjit Kaur 64kg, and Manish Kaushik in the 63kg].
Of all these nominated athletes, Boroghain won the bronze medal twice with the recent being last year.
Regarding the Dronarchaya awards, the Boxing Federation of India has concluded a list of names for the National Women’s coach, Mohammed Ali Qamar, and fellow assistant Chhote Lal Yadav.
The BFI released a statement saying the nominations of the athletes and coaches are purely based on their performances so far in the past four years.
Looking at the 24-year-old Panghal who has not won a national award apart from winning the Asian Games Championships has been nominated in each of the last three years but keeps being denied by the selection committee due to a doping offense back in 2012.
However, the BFI executive director R.K Sacheti has said that Panghal is now permitted to compete for the country, and the Federation as a whole celebrates his achievements so far and deserves recognition for his brilliant performances.
Below is the name of the nominees for the prestigious award
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: Amit Panghal Vikas Krishan
Arjuna Award: Lovlina Boroghain, Simranjit Kaur and Manish Kaushik
Dronarcharya Award: Mohammed Ali Qamar, Chhote Lal Yadav, Dhyan Chand
Written by: Olumide Akinnifesi