That’s fair & square

Manjula Negi / Feb 4, 2009, 00:35 IST

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Does a maiden win in the Olympics warrant a Padmashri? Or does one need to prove their mettle a bit more?

At a time when the country and almost all its sportspersons are up in arms at the exclusion of Olympians Vijender Singh and Sushil Kumar from the Padma awards, I find myself agreeing with Sports Minister MS Gill when he takes a stand to the contrary: "Normally the Padma Shri is given on the basis of a career of excellence and to expect it so soon would be naive on their (Sushil and Vijender) part.
Anil Kumble was awarded 15 years after his debut, Bhaichung Bhutia had to wait 14 years for the award and MC Marykom won after sealing her third World Championship title."
That's fair and square - unlike a lot of government decisions. Without in any way taking away from the merit of the duo's case or taking away from the glory that Vijender and Sushil have brought to the country at large and on a forum as prestigious as the Olympic arena - it's important to remember that they are too nascent in their careers to be looking at awards yet. Great news if they are getting them but even better if they aren't. Not because they aren't deserving of them, but they'd be better off focusing on their careers at this point in time.
Recognition and success can go to one's head if it comes too early and this seems to have happened in the case of Vijender and Sushil, for what else can explain their disappointment? Why would they believe that not getting a Padmashri is a cul de sac and that they are actually contemplating giving up the game? Is the award worth giving up everything that you've cherished, nurtured and nourished so far? Was the sport taken up for the love of it; for the fame of it or to bring laurels for your country? In the case of all the three, it seems to be proven beyond doubt that the goal has been achieved.

Except that in the last case, how much glory is the country getting internationally when you voice your annoyance through media? And last but not the least, if they were as disappointed over a defeat as they are over losing the Padmashri, they would be unstoppable.

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