The newly-formed Arjuna Awards committee will suggest to the government to increase the number of awardees to accomodate more deserving candidates.
"Last year was a successful one for Indian sports, with athletes garnering a rich haul of medals in the Commonwealth Games and the Busan Asian Games," P K Banerjee, chairman of the committee, said in Delhi on Thursday.
"The government has fixed the number at 15, plus a disabled candidate. But with the increased number of performances we have to consider, the committee will make a suggestion to increase the number," Banerjee said.
The former ace footballer said the panel has received more than 150 names for the three awards that fall under its purview -- the Major Dhyanchand Award, Rajiv Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Award.
The members made a basic scrutiny of the names recommended to them during their six-hour meeting and will reconvene tomorrow for further discussion, Banerjee said.
Banerjee, himself an Arjuna and Padma Shri awardee, said there will be "no scope for hanky panky" in naming the awards this time.
"We will make sure that the person who gets the award has a good reputation in society, discipline and of good character.
"We will also look at his professional record, like doping charges, and at not just he or she winning a medal."
The other members of the Arjuna Awards committee are: Ashok Kumar (hockey), Shiny Wilson (athletics), Naresh Kumar and Satpal (wrestling), Randhir Singh (kabaddi), Khazan Singh (swimming), Karunakaran (weightlifting), Chetan Chauhan (cricket), P V Ramanna, Bhupinder Singh (Director, Sports Ministry), N R Choudhary (Railways Sports Promotion Board), Gopi Chand (Deputy Speaker, Haryana).
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