With decks cleared for boxer Manoj Kumar to finally receive the Arjuna Award, the pugilist on Wednesday said that he was sad to go to court for the award, but not wrong in fighting for his rights.
"Although I am sad that I had to go to court for this, but then fighting for right is not wrong. I would have been happier if I had received the award on time," Kumar told ANI.
Kumar had approached the Delhi High Court after the Sports Ministry did not include his name for an Arjuna Award nomination. After the court ruled in his favour, the pugilist said he was happy that he had got his right which had been sidelined earlier.
"I am happy that I got my right which had been earlier sidelined. Whether because of the court or because the Sports Ministry accepted that they were wrong to deny we the award, I am happy that I finally got my right," he added.
He thanked his coach and his brother for supporting him and for taking his voice to the court and the media.
Manoj's lawyer, Rahul Mehra, said, "One's belief in the entire judicial system has gone up by many folds. However, it is very sad that sports persons have to knock doors of the court for what they are entitled."
"Manoj Kumar is a world class boxer and there was no reason why a person getting lesser points according to the selection criteria should have got the award and Manoj should have been left out," Mehra added.
Manoj Kumar had initially approached the sports ministry when his name was omitted from the list of 15 sportspersons considered for the awards, while the name of boxer Jai Bhagwan was included.
Kumar claims that the sports ministry officials had assured him that his name would be added to the list during a review meeting.
But during the review meeting on August 19 selection committee decided not to make any changes in the original list, forcing him to approach the court.
