Amit Panghal nominated for Arjuna award once again

Panghal was nominated last year as well for the second highest sporting honour after the Khel Ratna.

Amit Phangal was also nominated for the Rajeev Khel Ratna award last year.

Asian Games 2018 gold medal-winning Indian boxer Amit Panghal was on Tuesday nominated for Arjuna awards by the Boxing Federation of India.

Panghal, who claimed the light flyweight (49kg) category gold after defeating reigning Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan in the Asiad final at Jakarta, was nominated last year as well for the second highest sporting honour after the Khel Ratna.

Here is the full list of Khel Ratna and Arjuna award nominees

However, he was not considered due to a failed dope test in 2012, for which he served a one-year ban.

“We are nominating Amit again and we are confident that he will be considered this time,” BFI President Ajay Singh told reporters at a felicitation function.

Panghal, who now competes in 52kg category, had said that the anabolic steroid for which he tested positive was a case of accidental intake during treatment for chicken pox.

It remains to be seen whether there would be a change in the position due to the Army man’s continuous remarkable performances, including a Commonwealth Games silver last year and most recently a gold in the Asian championships.

“Let’s see what happens now. I am hopeful that this time, I would be considered,” Panghal said.

Also nominated is 2017 world bronze-winner. The Delhi-based boxer, who recently won a silver medal at the national championships, was the lone Indian medallist at the 2017 world championships in Hamburg.

Other boxers who will be in contention but have not been recommended by BFI are former world silver-medallist Sonia Lather and former CWG bronze-winner Pinki Rani.

Women’s assistant coach Sandhya Gurung and former women’s chief coach Shiv Singh’s names have been recommended for the Dronacharya Award.