Tejaswin Shankar, an Asian Games silver medallist, has expressed his frustration with the Indian Sports Ministry over the delay in announcing the national sports awards. He stated that the ministry should have reviewed the nominees for the Arjuna Award prior to releasing an unofficial recommended list in December. The ministry is currently reassessing nominations, which has led to a four-month delay in finalizing the awardees. Shankar emphasized that this delay is demotivating for athletes and reflects a lack of respect for their efforts. The only nominee for the Khel Ratna award is Hardik Singh, while 24 athletes, including Shankar and teenage chess player Divya Deshmukh, are in contention for the Arjuna Award. Notably, Aarti Pal, a Yogasana athlete, has also been recommended for the Arjuna Award, marking a significant recognition for the discipline. The awards ceremony, traditionally held on August 29 to honor hockey legend Dhyan Chand, has faced disruptions in recent years due to scheduling conflicts.