Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik nominated for ‘BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The 12 months’-Sports activities Information , Firstpost

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat. AP

New Delhi: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, who lately staged a protest towards WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and accused him of sexual exploitation and intimidation, had been amongst 5 athletes nominated on Monday for the ‘BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The 12 months’ award.

Others who made the reduce had been Tokyo Olympics silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, ace shuttler PV Sindhu and boxer Nikhat Zareen.

The athletes had been short-listed after a panel of jury, consisting of sports activities journalists and writers, voted for his or her most well-liked gamers, based mostly on their achievements.

The winner will probably be chosen by a public vote that started on Monday and can proceed until 20 February midnight. The winner will probably be introduced on 5 March.

Rupa Jha, the Head of India BBC Information, introduced that they’ve launched a brand new award class — BBC Indian para-sportswoman of the 12 months.

Ekta Bhyan, the 2018 Asian para Video games gold medallist, welcomed the transfer and emphasised on the necessity to make the stadiums extra accessible to the physically-challenged athletes.

“The stadiums and swimming swimming pools must be accessible simply for the disabled athletes. Psychological boundaries have to be damaged, about 60 to 70 per cent of disabled inhabitants continues to be restricted to properties. Extra consciousness and work is required at grassroots stage,” Bhyan, flanked by London Olympics bronze-winning boxer Vijender Singh, stated.

“Sports activities must be part of schooling. Why ought to disabled athletes begin their careers on the age of 15 or 16, sport must be accessible to them a lot earlier and there must be a complete and non-discriminatory coverage for disabled,” she added.

Vijender stated the ladies athletes are two steps forward of their male counterparts and deserve respect greater than the awards.

He lamented that nationwide boxing federation doesn’t communicate with boxers like him.

“I find out about present standing of boxing as a lot you (media individuals) know. We aren’t known as for even Nationals or different occasions. I used to be requested about Indian boxing by Salman Khan and Rahul Gandhi and instructed them I don’t know as a result of we’re not concerned,” he stated.

He suggested that each village in India ought to have its personal multi-sport stadium to encourage children.

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