Aug. 1: Disappointed at not getting the coveted Khel Ratna, ace Indian shooter Gagan Narang on Sunday took a dig at its selection criteria, saying the country’s highest sporting honour seems to be decided more on the basis of public and media perception than the athletes’ performance.
“I am very very disappointed over what happened to me. It was third time in a row. “I think, Khel Ratna is just inclusion of the public perception and media perception,” Gagan said. “It was disheartening to know that I was in run for my achievement in 2009, I was in with a chance in 2008 also.
“But I would rather like my guns to talk and hope that the bronze medal opens up a few blindfolds,” Narang said. The Indian lamented that even the world record could not fetch him the country’s top sports award.
“I thought that I would get when I shot the world record and I am still the world record holder,” said Narang.