January 25 - Sushil Kumar (pictured), India's Olympic wrestling bronze medallist, has hit out at the Government after again being overlooked for for the Padma Shri, an award given to honour outstanding achievements by the country's top sportsmen and women.



Boxer Vijender Singh was among the six sportsmen recognised today in the Republic Day honours list, meaning, that out of the three Indians who won medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Kumar remains the only one not to have been given the award, considered to be among the most prestigious in Indian society.

Singh, who last September added a bronze medal in the World Amateur Boxing Championships to his Olympic honour, was named alongside cricketer Virender Sehwag, badminton star Saina Nehwal, hockey player Ignace Tirkey, cricket coach Ramakant Vithal Achrekar and Narain Karthikeyan, India's first Formula One driver.

Abhinav Bindra, the Olympic 10 metre rifle champion, had been honoured last year and Kumar was expecting his name to appear this year after taking the bronze medal in the freestyle 75 kilogram at the World Championships in Copenhagen in September.

It was India's first medal at the Championships for 42 years.

Kumar said: "I am deeply hurt and pained.

"Would anyone care to tell me why I was not considered for one of country's highest awards?.

"What more I need to do to prove my talent and worth to the Government?

"I'm pained and I hope they realise it.

"It's not just a matter of an award.

"I want them to recognise my talent."


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September 2009: Kom and Kumar sign deals with management company
August 2009: Wrestling finally gets the recognition it deserves, says Kumar
August 2009: Indian boxing favourite signs up with OGQ