New Delhi: The National Sports Awards ceremony this year is likely to be delayed by a month or two due to the Covid-19 pandemic but a final decision will be taken only after receiving guidance from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a Sports Ministry official has said.

The National Sports Awards include the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyanchand honours, conferred every year by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29.

The ceremony coincides with the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. But this year, it might be delayed due to the pandemic, although a final decision is still awaited. “We haven’t heard anything from the Rashtrapati Bhavan yet. We are waiting for a communication with regard to the Sports awards. So, at this point of time, it is very difficult to say what will happen,” the ministry official said.

“Currently, public gathering is prohibited across the country due to Covid-19 so no functions are being organised at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the past also, the awards ceremony has been organised with delays, so in case it cannot be held on August 29, we can hold it one or two months later. The well-being and safety of all should be the priority right now,” he added.
The pandemic had last month forced the sports ministry to extend the deadline for submission of online applications for the awards. It also allowed athletes to self-nominate in view of the “difficulties” being faced by them to find recommenders amid the lockdown. The self-nomination has resulted in a huge number of applicants for the awards but the sports ministry is yet to form a committee to select the eventual winners with just a month left for the ceremony if it is held on time.

It has been learnt that the ministry is yet to start screening of the applications and a delay is inevitable. “The sports awards this year will definitely be delayed because screening of applications is a tedious task which is yet to begin,” a ministry source said. “But the awards will definitely be given away. There is no question of denying deserving athletes and coaches their due recognition.”