Karnataka HC stays Sania Mirza's Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award

The Karnataka High Court has put a stay on the prestigious Khel Ratna award been given to Tennis star Sania Mirza.

Sania Mirza's name was officially approved for the coveted Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award on 14th August. She became the only second tennis player to be nominated for the highest sporting honour. 

Karnataka Paralympic athlete HN Girisha, had filed a petition with the way his performance was ignored by the Sports ministry-appointed panel, after which the state's High Court put a stay on Sania's "Khel Ratna".

In the High Court proceedings on Wednesday, Justice Bopanna sought replies from the respondents as to why Girisha's name was overlooked in favour of Sania, considering the points system being implemented by the central government. Girisha, a Paralympic Games medallist, said in his plea that he deserved to win the coveted award more than Sania because he was the top contender with 90 points against his name and the tennis star was far behind him as per performance-based points system.

Girisha said Sania's Wimbledon doubles crown would not be counted in the consideration for the coveted award as it was not included in the sports events mentioned in the government notification for awarding Khel Ratna. He said the ministry should consider a sportsperson's name for the award taking into account performances at the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships from 2011.

"I deserve to win the top award given to sportspersons. I am a top contender as I garnered 90 points as against Sania, who is not anywhere near in top contenders' list. The award is given to sportspersons based on the performance-based points system," the silver medallist in the 2012 London Paralympics said.

"I understand Sania has won Grand Slam titles but according to ministry notification, only performances at the Olympics, Paralympics, Asiad, Commonwealth Games and World Championships from 2011 will be considered," he said.

Sania was more than excited after getting the award and had commented then, "It's a tremendous honour for me to be conferred the Khel Ratna award and I feel humbled with the love and respect showered on me by my country."

Sania, currently ranked world number one in women's doubles, scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a women's doubles Grand Slam title when she and Martina Hingis clinched the Wimbledon trophy earlier this year. Sania is only the second tennis player after Leander Paes to be named for the top award. Paes had been bestowed the honour way back in 1996 after his bronze medal in the Atlanta Olympics.