Recently, IWHF sources expressed surprise that three of their nominees for the prestigious Arjuna award were not considered by the concerned Selection Committee. Careful watchers surprise, not at the government’s decision, but at the list that the IWHF forwarded.

In no circumstances the Awards Selection Committee – a composition of past players of repute — would have given the women hockey more than one. More so when the numbers of awardees have been reasonably restricted to 15.

Last year performance was the benchmark for which the excellence in sportspersons were to be recognized in the form of these awards. There were many claimants for these awards as both Commonwealth Games and Asian Games were held last year.

India finished third at the Commonwealth Games at Manchester in the medals tally while its medals went up by thrice at the Busan Asian Games.

Therefore, the IWHF should have foreseen number of its players would stand a chance. Having said that I should add that the two players it recommended – Sumrai Tete and Jothi Sunita Kullu – deserved the honour though it was premature in respect of its third nominee Mamta Kharab.

Though on paper the particular year performance is emphasized for consideration, overall performance of a player over a period of time is considered for Arjuna.

That is why Sita Gusain, Tingonleima Chanu, Pritam Thakran were given the award in the years gone by. These three girls have represented India for over a decade and their fitness and commitment were taken into account.

Why, then, the same yardstick, that is, seniority and longevity were not given due consideration in the case of Manjinder?

Manjinder made her international debut along with Sita and Pritam, a couple of years before Tingonleima. While Sita, Pritam and Tingongleima got their due, Manjinder has never been recommended by the IWHF for the Arjuna Award. Further, despite her seniority the Commonwealth Games gold medallist have never been made captain too.

Manjinder has been representing the country since 1991 and is still going strong. Only Sita and Pritam match her seniority in the contemporary scene.

So dejected at the whim and fancy of those who willfully neglected her stature that Manjinder decided to play for a club in USA. However, she of late bowed to the good counselling.

It is now reliably learnt that Mamta Kharab, who made her senior debut hardly three years ago, would get the final nod from the Committee. Her two goals in the final of the Commonwealth Games seem to score over seniority, consistency and fitness.

Ironically, Mamta would not be in action for another year as she had recently undergone knee operation.

Interestingly, Sita, Pritam and Tingongleima, the past awardees, never missed a single tournament in their long career. So also their contemporary Manjinder. What Manjinder missed in her 12 year career have been captaincy and Arjuna.

K. Arumugam