Rudrapur: A day after para-badminton champion Manoj Sarkar’s name was announced for the Arjuna Award, a stream of well-wishers lined up at his house in Rudrapur The current world number 1 para-badminton player told TOI that he had to wait a long while for this recognition. “I have waited long for this prestigious award. Getting selected for this award is one of the biggest moments in my career. I hope my achievements will be an example for other para-athletes,” said the 28-year-old who resides in a slum in Indira Colony.Last year, nine months after winning a historic gold in the Asian Para-Badminton Championship in Beijing, Sarkar, who was then world number 2, had been upset that he had been overlooked by the government for the Arjuna Award.He had even written to the sports ministry regarding the matter. The shuttler competes in the SL3 category, where players have disabilities in one or both lower limbs and poor walking/running balance.Sarkar, who has numerous medals in his name, said, “I was in Class 7 in 2003 when I took up badminton. I feel that finally my hard work has paid off.”Sarkar added, “I have been training hard in recent times for the Para Asian games to be held in Jakarta in October and this award will motivate me to aim for more in the international meet.”

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