Cricketer Virender Sehwag, shooter Anjali Bhagwat and athlete K M Beenamol are unlikely to receive state awards this year if the government retains its inflexible stand on what appears to be its own folly.

"Our honourable sports minister (Vikram Verma) is making an issue about certain entries being received late," said a member of the newly formed Arjuna Awards Committee. "But little does he realise the last date mentioned in the government's notification -- May 31 -- was a Saturday and a central holiday."

The government has refused to change its stand on two issues -- one, a few entries were received late and two, the list of awardees cannot be increased from 15 to 20, as demanded by the Arjuna Awards Committee.

The official said, "There were at least five sportspersons whose names were recommended, but no last-date entries were mentioned in their columns. Is this what you call is sticking by rules?

"Further, the government circular in January never mentioned no entries would be entertained after May 31, 2003? How are associations likely to be aware of this clause?"

Another member of the committee was similarly livid at the government's step-motherly attitude towards sports.

"How can the government be so inflexible? Do they realise India's haul of gold medals in last year's Commonwealth and Asian Games was the biggest in the last 20 years?" he said.

"India earned 40 gold medals last year -- 30 in Commonwealth and 10 in Asian Games -- which is by far the best in last two decades. It is much higher than seven golds each in Commonwealth and Asian Games India won in 2000.

"Only because some babus in the ministry go by rulebook, government is willing to let down the sports community. It is hardly the kind of promotion you need when you are aspiring for an Olympic medal next year."

Further, if the rulebook is strictly adhered to, Sehwag, Bhagwat and Beenamol will not be considered as their entries were received late by their respective sports associations.

Sehwag has been recommended for the Arjuna Award while the names of Bhagwat and Beenamol have been forwarded for Khel Ratnas.

"Babus are manipulating names by making an issue of the last-date clause. They cannot get deserving sportspersons out on merit, so they choose this clause and play favourites," said the member.

The committee is to recommend sportspersons to the government for Arjuna Awards, Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna and Dhyan Chand awards.

Incidentally, contrary to reports, former Test opener and MP Chetan Chauhan did not support Sehwag's candidature in the committee's meeting in New Delhi recently.

Chauhan backed the government on its insistence to stick by the rulebook and said Sehwag should not be in the running.

The committee, headed by former soccer star P K Banerjee, has 13 members, including five Olympians, four Arjuna Award winners and two sports administrators.