NEW DELHI: The National Sports Day awards function, traditionally held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, may not take place as scheduled this year due to Covid-19 pandemic, TOI has learnt.
There’s a possibility that the awards ceremony could either be entirely scrapped or postponed indefinitely as the government and the President’s House feel that the time isn’t right to host the ceremony for the country’s elite athletes and coaches during the peak pandemic, sources said.
There are multiple reasons for it.
The ceremony to award the best Indian athletes and coaches in four categories – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyanchand – is only one month away, but the sports ministry hasn’t so far constituted the two selection committees which would have recommended the names of sportspersons to sports minister Kiren Rijiju for his final assent.
“The possibility of hosting the awards ceremony on August 29 is as good as over. No one in the government wants to take a chance with the safety and health of athletes, coaches and other concerned officials involved with the awards function,” the source informed.
More than 500 athletes and coaches have applied for this year’s sports day awards in all four categories.