Wrestler Virender Singh, who is deaf and mute, voiced his dissatisfaction at not being chosen for Khel Ratna at the National Sports Awards in 2023.
Virender Singh, a highly distinguished Deaflympian, was devastated to learn that he had been disqualified from receiving the Khel Ratna award on Tuesday at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, when President Draupadi Murmu was honoring a number of other sportsmen. Virender, also referred to as Goonga Pahalwan, is an Indian wrestler who holds three gold medals from the Deaflympics. Following his 2021 Padma Shri victory, Virender took to social media to voice his disappointment at not being awarded India’s highest sporting honor, the Khel Ratna, by tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. Virender, an Arjuna awardee, also took issue with the Haryana government, claiming that it had broken its policy by not providing him with the Rs. 8 crore that was promised.
“Even after winning five Olympic gold, Honorable PM Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur have not given me the Khel Ratna. In accordance with its policy, the Haryana government has donated Rs. 8 crore. Being an athlete who is deaf and mute is my only transgression. Jay Hind “On X, he wrote
— Virender Singh (@GoongaPahalwan) January 9, 2024
PM Modi praised the athletes on Tuesday at the National Sports Awards ceremony, when President Murmu bestowed honors upon them.
“To the esteemed National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023 recipients, congratulations. Their astounding accomplishments and unrelenting commitment serve as an inspiration to our country. In addition to being outstanding in their domains, they have elevated India’s profile internationally, PM Modi tweeted.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2024
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award was given to India’s top badminton men’s doubles team, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, during the ceremony on Tuesday.
The Arjuna Award recipients included wrestler Antim Panghal, bowler Mohammed Shami of India, and archers Ojas Pravin Deotale, Sheetal Devi, and Aditi Gopichand Swami.
