How much delay is too much delay? The athletes were waiting for the National Sports Awards, the ministry offers no explanation

The Arjuna Award trophy held by the recipient during the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. (left) and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya (Photo/Agencies) More than six months after the selection committee submitted its recommendations, the 2025-26 National Sports Awards are yet to be announced, leading to growing frustration among athletes and former award winners.The sports ministry attributes the delay to “re-evaluation of the names selected for the Arjuna awards”. According to ministry sources quoted by news agency PTI, the process is procedural and aimed at maintaining the integrity of prices.However, several athletes and former awardees believe the long wait affects morale.“It is unfortunate that there has been no announcement yet. It is demotivating for athletes, especially since unofficially, most people will know whether they have been shortlisted or not,” former Olympic medalist Khel Ratna told PTI.The National Sports Awards ceremony was traditionally held on August 29, the National Sports Day, which commemorates the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. Since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when the awards were presented virtually, the date no longer remains fixed.In recent years, the ceremony has often been pushed back to accommodate performances at the Olympics and other multi-sport events. The most recent edition took place on January 17 of last year.The recommendations for the 2025-26 awards were finalized in December 2025. As per existing norms, the Sports Ministry is expected to formally announce the names within a week, with only minor changes if necessary.More than six months later, still no announcement. The delay has also raised concerns as the nomination process for the next edition approaches.“These awards should always be done according to a set schedule. Whatever evaluation needs to be done, it can be done, but not by hiding names like this. I am sure most of those who have been selected deserve this honour,” the former Khel Ratna awardee was quoted as saying by PTI.Even the former Arjuna awardee and Commonwealth Games gold medalist questioned the delay. He said on condition of anonymity that if August 29 is no longer convenient, the authorities should choose another fixed date for the ceremony.“First the date got shifted due to various reasons and now the whole process has stopped which is not the fault of the athletes at all. The ministry needs to give at least some explanation because these honors are like an annual festival for the athletes. Getting those blazer cuts, the rehearsal of the whole protocol and finally that moment with the President is a major highlight for the athletes and Arjuna gold medalists,” he said. as PTI says.Concerns are not limited to former awardees. After the ministry announced the review process, Asian Championships decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, who was recommended for the Arjuna Award, publicly criticized the delay.“This delay is not only demotivating for athletes and coaches, but also a sign of disrespect,” he wrote on X in April.Among the nominees for this year’s Arjuna award are World Cup-winning chess player Divya Deshmukh and gymnast Pranati Nayak.According to a PTI report, men’s hockey player Hardik Singh is the only recommendation for the Khel Ratna, India’s highest sports honour, which carries a medallion, a citation and a cash award of Rs 25 lakh.More than 20 sportspersons have been recommended for the Arjuna Award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 15 crore. The list includes athletes from disciplines such as chess and yoga who could gain representation for the first time if the recommendations are not changed.The Ministry of Sports has not issued a formal explanation for the delay. However, officials have said privately that there are concerns about whether some of the recommended candidates meet the success criteria required for the Arjuna award.