BAI Recommends Srikanth For Khel Ratna Award, HS Prannoy Show-caused On Disciplinary Grounds

"Considering the talent of Srikanth and the accomplishments, we have decided to recommend his name for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award," BAI General Secretary Ajay Singhania said.

New Delhi: The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Friday recommended Kidambi Srikanth for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the nation's highest sporting award which can be accorded to a sportsperson in the nation. The apex badminton body decided to nominate the ace shuttler after he apologised for pulling out of a tournament midway last season. The BAI show-caused Srikanth's teammate H S Prannoy for slamming the federation after not being nominated for the Arjuna honour. Both Srikanth and Prannoy did not turn up for the semifinal of the Asian Team Championship at Manila in February. Instead, they left for Barcelona to take part in another event. India ended up losing the semifinal but finished third in the competition. On disciplinary grounds, the BAI did not nominate world number 14 Srikanth and 28th ranked Prannoy for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award respectively. Though Srikanth's application has been forwarded to the Sports Ministry, Prannoy has been ignored and instead been asked to respond for his outburst against BAI within 15 days. ".....Srikanth and Prannoy had left the squad at the Asian Badminton Championship in Manila in February, despite advice not to leave, which put India's chances of winning the historic medal at the championship in lurch," read a BAI statement.

"We have received an email from Srikanth in which he has accepted the mistake and he has also promised to not indulge in such activities in the future," it added. "Considering the talent of Srikanth and the accomplishments, we have decided to recommend his name for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award," BAI General Secretary Ajay Singhania said. Prannoy had launched a scathing attack on BAI after being overlooked for the Arjuna nomination for the second successive year.