Reportedly, former Indian cricket vice-captain Virender Sehwag has emerged in support of discus-thrower Krishna Poonia in the controversy related to the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards, requesting the government to consider her achievements.
Sehwag highlighted that Poonia has great achievements like Commonwealth Games gold medal as well as sixth place finish at the Olympics and should be considered for Khel Ratna. He added that he is sure that the government will look into the matter.
Poonia claimed on Wednesday that voting for the prestigious Khel Ratna Award, which was decided by the government on Tuesday to be awarded to the double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi, is manipulated.
After being ignored as Paralympics silver medalist, Girisha Nagarajegowda joined Poonia in that uproar expressing his annoyance after being rebuffed that the government is of "double standards".
The declaration of Sodhi's name has resulted in much anger in the Indian sports fraternity. Interestingly, Poonia claimed that Sodhi's name was recommended following votes by two Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials, who don't posses the right to vote.
Poonia asserted that SAI officials do not have voting rights. She has very good performances in the period for which the award was given. She insisted that if this is the way awards are decided, then they should stop giving awards.
