Press Trust of India
New Delhi, August 28: Delhi High Court Friday directed the centre to confer Dronacharya award on former chief national wrestling coach Vinod Kumar.
The high court allowed the plea of Kumar, who had moved the high court against Dronacharya Award selection committee for ignoring him for the prestigious honour.
The Dronacharya Award selection committee had recommended Anoop Singh Dahiya’s name for this award.
“The award shall be given to the petitioner Vinod Kumar,” Justice V P Vaish said.
Vinod, who was the chief coach of national men’s team, from November 2010 to April 2015, had claimed that he had earned more points for his achievements of his wards at international tournaments than Anoop.
Kumar had said that he had the highest points amongst all the nominees and better qualification for getting the award.
He had further claimed that his name was dropped by the committee because he was earlier awarded Dhyan Chand award.
“I don’t understand what has Dhyan Chand award got to do with the Dronacharya award. There are so many recipients who have earlier got both Arjuna as well as Dronacharya awards,” he had said.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had sacked Vinod as the chief national coach in May this year after his performance as mentor was found to be inadequate during the Doha Asian Championship.