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Vinesh Phogat lashes out at being ignored for Padma awards

Vinesh Phogat lashes out at being ignored for Padma awards
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By

Sarah Waris

Published: 27 Jan 2020 6:26 AM GMT

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat lashed out on Sunday after she was not on the list of awardees for the Padma awards. The bronze medal winner at the World Championships in 2019 was one of the nominees after her name had been sent to the Sports Ministry, but she was not a recipient.

Phogat took to social media to write, "Every year our government awards several sportspersons. These awards serve as great encouragement for sports and for athletes to continue chasing excellence. But it's also seen that numerous times these awards don't honour current achievements or instances of sporting success in the recent past. It's almost like the deserving get left out each time. This has been a pattern and the 2020 awards list is no different.

"Who decides who shall be awarded? Are there current or former athletes in the jury? How does it even work? At the end, it all just seems slightly unfair.!!!! (sic.)"

https://twitter.com/Phogat_Vinesh/status/1221439129105391617

The 25-year-old made news back in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after she had to be carried out of the mat due on a stretcher due to a knee injury. The same year she was given the Arjuna Award as well. However, since the injury, Phogat has returned a more determined player, eager to create history in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

She has emerged a strong contender in the 53 kg weight division after her recent showings. Phogat bagged the gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in her weight category, and went on to become the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold in the Asian Games 2018.

The Haryana-born athlete has had a stellar run in the last twelve months, which began with her winning a bronze in the 2019 Asian Wrestling Championships. Before winning the bronze in World Wrestling Championships, Phogat bagged the Poland Open and the Yasar Dogu International meets as well, winning gold in both events.

Courtesy her bronze medal finish in the World Championships, Phogat sealed a quota spot for the Tokyo Games, to become the first women wrestler from India to qualify for the event. She has started 2020 on a high as well, claiming top honours in the Rome Ranking Series.

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