Sports minister ensures Khel Ratna for Paralympics medallists

Sports Minister Vijay Goel has guaranteed the Paralympic medallists the same treatment as the Olympic medal winners.  He has said that the Paralympic winners will also be conferred with Khel Ratna award next year.

The minister spoke to the media during his visit to the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Hyderabad, on Saturday.

" All the Paralympic medallists will be treated at par with other Olympic medallists. They will also be getting Khel Ratna," Goel told Times of India.

Agreeing to what PV Sindhu said earlier, the sports minister also expressed that winning an Olympic medal is a bigger achievement than winning a Khel Ratna award. 

" Sindhu also says she prefers the Olympic medal. Paralympic athletes brought a huge honour to the country. We are proud of them, and we will reward them in the same manner like Sindhu and Sakshi," he added.

Sindhu and Sakshi were India's only medalists at Rio recently. While Sindhu clinched the silver medal in Badminton's singles event, Sakshi bagged a bronze medal in women's wrestling, 58kg freestyle.

The media bombarded queries regarding Saina Nehwal and Yogeshwar Dutt, who participated in the Games despite being injured to Goel.

"As of now, we cannot reveal these things in public. But we are seriously conducting an investigation into those issues. We have to do a lot of introspection. Very soon we will come out with a report," he explained.

Goel also revealed that the government is set to launch a portal to scout talent.

• Rio Paralympics 2016
• Paralympics
• India
• Vijay Goel