February 12, 2026 05:31 am (IST)
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Pity that athletes feel they have to lobby for awards: Omar
Jammu, Jan 6 (IBNS): Outgoing Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday regretted that Indian athletes feel they have to "lobby" to receive awards.
"It's a great pity that our athletes feel they have to lobby & threaten to receive awards, criteria based on merit should be all that decides," Abdullah tweeted.
This comes after reports said that boxer Vijender Singh on Tuesday asked the Boxing Federation to recommend his name to the Sports Ministry for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award.
After the Union Sports Ministry has decided to recommend Saina Nehwal’s name for Padma Bhushan awards, the controversy over Vijender Singh lobbying for awards surfaced.
Following the row, Abdullah said, "There is something rather off putting seeing our most accomplished sportspersons jostling each other to jump the "Padma" award queue."
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