MUMBAI: Former national badminton coach Vimal Kumar and ex-athlete Ashwini Nachappa have been nominated by the Sports Ministry to be part of this year’s Arjuna and Khel Ratna awards selection committee, Press Trust of India reports.
The committee will be headed by the retired Delhi High Court judge, Justice Indermeet Kaul Kochhar and will include three renowned sports journalists.
“Yes I have received a verbal invitation from the ministry and more than willing to be a part of the committee. But I am still awaiting the official mail.” Nachappa was quoted as saying to PTI in Bengaluru.
Kumar, who is renowned as Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal’s mentor, too confirmed that he has got a communication from the ministry but is yet to make up his mind.
The selection committee is expected to meet later this week to pick the National Sports Awards winners for this year.
In a shift from tradition, The National Sports Awards, which is held on August 29 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, has been shifted to September 25 for clash of dates with the just-concluded Asian Games.



