A selection of top athletes from various disciplines has been shortlisted for prestigious national sports awards. In the boxing sector, the Boxing Federation of India has proposed Lovlina Borgohain (69 kg), Simranjit Kaur (64 kg), and Manish Kaushik (63 kg) for the Arjuna Award. Furthermore, on June 1, 2020, the BFI nominated world medalists Amit Panghal and Vikas Krishan Yadav for the high-profile Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Borgohain's credentials include two bronze medals, with the most recent coming last year.
The BFI has also recommended Mohammed Ali Qamar and Chhote Lal Yadav for the Dronacharya Award, which recognizes outstanding coaching. The federation clarified that all nominees, including coaches, were evaluated based on their track record over the previous four years. This includes Amit Panghal, an Asian Games champion and prolific medal winner, whose previous honors were stalled due to a 2012 doping offense despite three Arjuna Award nominations. R K Sacheti, the BFI's Executive Director, pointed out the irony that while the nation cheers Panghal's victories, he is denied official recognition. To address this and the current selection process, Panghal sent a formal letter to Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, requesting a review of the selection committee and the self-nomination system.
Among the Arjuna Award nominees, Manish Kaushik stands out with a strong four-year performance record, including a silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a bronze, alongside qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. Similarly, Simranjit Kaur and Lovlina Borgohain secured their Tokyo Olympic spots via the Asian qualifiers. Meanwhile, 35-year-old world medalist Usha Nagisetty from Visakhapatnam has been nominated for the Dhyan Chand Award in recognition of her lifelong contribution to the sport. With the submission deadline set for June 3, 2020, the BFI's final list includes Amit Panghal and Vikas Krishan Yadav for the Khel Ratna; Lovlina Borgohain, Simranjit Kaur, and Manish Kaushik for the Arjuna Award; Qamar and Lal Yadav for the Dronacharya Award; and Usha Nagisetty for the Dhyan Chand Award. These recommendations follow a thorough review of the candidates' dedication and achievements over the last four years.