'Snubbed' for Arjuna Award, lifter Renubala returns C'Wealth Games gold

Peeved at being ignored for the prestigious Arjuna Award, top woman weightlifter Renubala Chanu today decided to return the gold medal she won in the Commonwealth Games last year to the Sports Minister.

Renubala, who won a gold in the 58kg category in the Commonwealth Games, said she was hurt at not being named for the Arjuna Awards after 11 years at the top level and winning medals at the international level.

"This is a big letdown for me after being at the top level for 11 years. I have been snubbed and cold-shouldered. It has hurt me and I have no motivation left whatsoever to continue in the sport. So I am returning the gold medal I won in the Commonwealth Games," she told reporters while showing the Commonwealth Games gold medal.

K Ravi Kumar, who had also won gold in the men's 69kg in the Commonwealth Games, was the lone weightlifter named among the Arjuna Awardees and Renubala said she was more deserving than him for the award.

"Ravi Kumar deserves to win the award but I am more deserving than him," said the 24-year-old Renubala who is now posted at the Guwahati Headquarters of the North Eastern Frontier Railways.

Renubala had also won gold in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and she said her brother is coming from her home state Manipur to hand over the other medals to the Sports Minister.

"I have won two Commonwealth Gold medals and a bronze in the Asian Championships. My brother is coming from home to return the other medals," she said.