Several of India's top archers have voiced their disappointment and raised serious questions about the selection process for the prestigious Arjuna Award. This comes after they were overlooked for the 2023 honors, despite delivering exceptional performances on the world stage throughout the year.
Stellar Performances Fail to Secure Recognition
The archery contingent, which brought immense glory to the nation in 2023, finds itself at the center of a growing controversy. Dhiraj Bommadevara, a key member of the historic silver medal-winning men's recurve team at the World Championships, expressed his profound disappointment. "We won a silver medal at the World Championships, which is a huge thing. Still, we didn't get the award," Bommadevara stated, highlighting the perceived inconsistency in the selection criteria.
His sentiments were echoed by world champion Aditi Swami. The young compound archer, who clinched a gold medal at the 2023 World Archery Championships, revealed that the snub has significantly impacted her morale. "I was very disappointed. For two days, I couldn't even practice properly," Swami admitted, underscoring the emotional toll of the oversight.
Calls for Transparent and Performance-Based Criteria
The core of the archers' grievance lies in the perceived lack of clarity and transparency in how awardees are chosen. Bommadevara pointedly questioned the existing framework, asking, "On what basis are the awards given?" He argued that if consistent world-level performance and podium finishes at premier events like the World Championships are not deemed worthy, then the benchmarks for the Arjuna Award need urgent re-evaluation.
This year, the archery community's hopes were pinned on multiple athletes who had a landmark 2023. The men's recurve team, comprising Bommadevara, Mrinal Chauhan, and Tushar Shelke, secured India's first-ever silver medal at the World Championships, a monumental achievement that guaranteed a team quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics. On the compound side, Aditi Swami and Ojas Pravin Deotale became world champions, with Deotale also winning the Asian Games gold medal.
The confusion is compounded by the fact that in some sports, athletes who have won medals at similar flagship events have been recognized. This has led to a sense of inequity and arbitrariness in the process. The archers are not seeking accolades without merit; they are demanding that the selection criteria for sports awards be objective, transparent, and squarely based on athletic excellence and results.
Impact on Morale and Future Prospects
The omission has tangible consequences beyond mere disappointment. Recognition through national awards is not just about honor; it often translates into financial benefits, job security, and sustained motivation. For athletes who dedicate their lives to training, such recognition validates their sacrifices and success.
Aditi Swami's confession about her disrupted training routine is a stark indicator of how such decisions can affect an athlete's mental preparedness. When world champions and Olympic quota winners feel their efforts are not seen or valued by the very system meant to reward them, it can create a demoralizing environment. The archers' outcry is a plea for a system that truly celebrates and incentivizes top-tier international success, ensuring that those who raise the nation's flag highest are duly acknowledged.
As the debate gains traction, the spotlight is now firmly on the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the selection committee. The archery community's questions demand clear answers to restore faith in the process and ensure that the path to India's sporting honors is as straight and true as the flight of their arrows.
