Pankaj Advani & Jwala Gutta Expressed Anguish Over Not Getting The Padma Awards Once Again

Awards hold great recognition in themselves; however, their dignity and value are decreasing day by day in view of the fact that deserving people don’t seem to get one while those who don’t appear to be worthy of it are given the same.

There was much chaos among social media users when Sharad Pawar was given Padma Vibhushan award and now National Billiards Champion Pankaj Advani, the winner of World Billiards Championship not once or twice but 16 times, took to Twitter for expressing his views when he couldn’t get the Padma Bhushan Awards this year as well.

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When Vijay Goel, Sports Minister, gave his best wishes to Advani on winning the National title, he responded in a satirical, angry yet dejected tone, “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”

When a fan asked about the criteria of selection, Pankaj clearly said that he was being recommended by the state. He wrote, “Sports Minister of Karnataka called months ago to tell me that my name was recommended by State! Just FYI”

When a user gave him a piece of advice of stop begging and leaving the desire and then only, he would be eligible for the award, Pankaj had an apt response! He said, “Who is begging here? When u understand the magnitude of winning consistently for ur country/breaking records, u will empathize!! #letitbe”

One more sportsperson who joined Advani over the matter is none other than Jwala Gutta, the ace shuttler of the country who articulated anger for not being given the Padma awards once again.

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She took to Facebook and expressed her anguish! Here’s what she wrote,

“I always wondered the concept of applying for particular award which is the most reputed awards in our country.. but then that’s what the procedure is.. so I did apply…applied cos it’s prestigious to have the award..cos I thought maybe I made the people of my country proud by my game and deserved it…I have been playing for this country for more than 15 years now..and have won so many prestigious tournaments..I thought maybe I should apply..but I guess it’s never enough..you need recommendations, recommendations that you deserve an award. You need to put in a word and get letters and the list goes on and on..but the question I still have is why do I have to apply for an award and also ask for recommendation. Aren’t my credentials good enough? Well I am really curious about the whole system..My two consecutive medals, Delhi CWG gold and Glasgow silver is not enough, My World Championships medal is not enough, I was top 10 ranked in this women doubles and mixed doubles and my superseries performance and medals in Grand Prix gold is not enough..I’m 15 times NationaI champion and I am also the first Indian to qualify for two events in Olympics in Indian history, I’m the first Indian to win a medal after Prakash Padukone sir in world championships and so many other firsts.. I have laid path for doubles in Badminton for our country when nobody took it seriously..but it’s simply isn’t enough..why cos I am outspoken? Cos I am opinionated? why is it that I am being denied of this particular award? Now I really don’t know should I be asking for this award…or I simply don’t deserve it. if this is not enough what is?”

It’s definitely unjustifiable if an individual who has been national champion for 15 times makes such a statement,

“I was expecting to be acknowledged, nothing else. This was the third time I applied. I feel I have been let down.”

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Despite proving their worth in respective fields, both the athletes didn’t get the recognition they deserve. Sad!

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