Arjuna award-winning archers Abhishek Verma and Rajat Chauhan along with other archers have written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind requesting him to not deprive national compound archery coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja of the Dronacharya award, reported PTI on Thursday.
Teja along with five other coaches was recommended for this year’s Dronacharya award by the selection committee, which is headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal. But his name was later rejected by the sports ministry after it was found out that Teja has been suspended for one year by the Archery Association of India (AAI) following an incident of indiscipline during the 2015 World University Games in Korea.
“He is a big motivator and has taken Indian archery to new heights. He has been with us since 2013 as a pillar of strength. So, we urge you to kindly acknowledge his efforts and pursue the issue at the earliest as it can affect the entire archery fraternity,” read the letter, reports PTI. A copy of it was also forwarded to Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
Among the archers, who together shot the letter to the President was 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Abhishek Verma, who was awarded Arjuna in 2014.
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Rajat Chauhan, who was part of the 2018 compound men’s team that clinched a silver was also bestowed with the Arjuna in 2016.
Meanwhile, Teja alleged that the committee was not looking at the success he brought to the country but is stuck in the same incident of which he has already served a punishment.
“We were No. 15 in Asia five years ago. Now we are second. We are winning medals at the Asian and world levels all the time. I have produced four Arjuna awardees, but merit is being ignored by the sports ministry,” he told Indian Express.
“Medals should be given more weightage and the information about which coach has contributed to which medals should be put online. Athletes’ feedback should be taken on which coach has really helped him win a medal,” he added in a talk with the national daily.