National Sports Awards: Ministry extends deadline for applications; allows self-nomination

sports ministry has extended deline for submitting applications for national sports awards till June 22 and also allowed athletes to self-minate in view of "difficulties" being faced by m to find recommenders amid COVID-19 lockdown. Wednesday was to be last day of completing mination process but period has been extended along with relaxation in process because of problems athletes are facing in "getting recommendation of prescribed authorities/persons due to country-wide lockdown on account of COVID-19 pandemic."

Ministry extends deline for applications

"...it has been decided to do away with condition of submitting only with recommendations of authorities/persons prescribed in awards scheme," stated a sports ministry circular.

"... part of application form requiring recommendation of prescribed authorities/persons may be left blank," it ded.

Ministry has invited only e-mail applications this year due to pandemic.  As per prescribed rms, minations for national awards can only be me along with recommendation of national federation, sports board, and former awardees. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju issued a statement on Wednesday to say that move is aimed at easing mination process for athletes.

" country is faced with an unusual situation and need of hour is to tweak mination rules of National Sports Awards to ensure that athletes are t disvantd in any way," he said. 

" nationwide lockdown has me it very difficult for most of m to reach out and seek recommendations for mination from competent authorities/persons," he ded. 

relaxation offers a window of opportunities for those athletes who have neir been shortlisted by ir national sports federations r got backing of previous awardees. awards, including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, are given away every year on August 29, birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand, which is also celebrated as national sports day.