‘I take this as challenge’ — Mizoram footballer Jeje Lalpekhlua on not getting Arjuna again

In letter to Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, Mizoram Football Association has asked why Jeje Lalpekhlua, who has been nominated thrice earlier, wasn't chosen for Arjuna Award this year too.

Guwahati: The Mizoram Football Association (MFA) has sought a clarification from the Union sports ministry on why ace footballer and former Chennaiyin FC striker Jeje Lalpekhlua was denied the prestigious Arjuna Award this year, despite being nominated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on three separate occasions in the past.

In a letter addressed to Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on 4 September, Lalnghinglova Hmar, honorary secretary of MFA, said, “…it is with respect that we would like to inquire about the case of Jeje Lalpekhlua, who has been nominated for the Arjuna Award on three separate occasions only to be overlooked in each of the past instances. We would be very much obliged if you can further provide us the detailed criteria for the Arjuna Award recipients.”

A 12-member committee constituted by the sports ministry had selected the winners of this year’s National Sports Awards, which were announced last month.

Twenty nine-year-old Lalpekhlua, a striker in the Indian national team, said the announcement had left him shocked.

“Everything has happened for football. The guys who got the trophy are my good friends, and I am really happy for them, but when I heard the news, I was really shocked. Last year, I did not get the trophy and this year I thought my time would come. Nevertheless, I take this as a challenge, ” he told ThePrint.

He added, “Sometimes, it happens in life, not just in football. You have no luck on your side, sometimes you win or lose, but you can always learn from these instances. You don’t need to feel bad about the results, but work your way through it.”

Lalpekhlua is currently in his hometown of Hnahthial in Mizoram, spending time playing football with the local boys.

‘Overlooked for lesser capped players’

Lalpekhlua is the second-highest goal-scorer after Sunil Chhetri in the national scoring charts among active players. He has earned 56 caps for India scoring a total of 23 goals, and is currently ranked sixth on the all-time scorer’s list.

The letter by MFA claimed that Lalpekhlua was “overlooked for lesser capped players” for the award.

In 2020, the letter mentioned, he was nominated along with footballers Sandesh Jhingan and Bala Devi. Jhingan has been selected for the Arjuna Award this year.

In 2019, he was nominated alongside footballers Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The award was conferred to the lesser capped Sandhu, stated the letter.

In 2017, Lalpekhlua, along with Sandhu and Bembem Devi, were nominated. Devi, from Manipur, was conferred the award.

Both Sandhu and Jhingan have earned 38 and 36 caps respectively, much less than Lalpekhlua’s 56.

“Devi is one of the greatest women footballers India has ever produced. So neither Jeje nor MFA has any complaint about that. But in comparison to Sandhu and Jhingan, the individual awards and number of matches played for India will show the gap. This year, the award went to Jhingan who has played 20 games less than Lalpekhlu for India,” Hmar told ThePrint.

AIFF vice-president Larsing Ming Sawyan, meanwhile, told ThePrint that the recommendation of names go from the federation but the final call is taken by the sports ministry.

“I have gone through the comparative statement put forward by the MFA — they want clarity on the selection process. On a personal level, even I would like to know how an Arjuna awardee is selected. Jhingan is a great player and currently at the top of his game. He’s been around for the last 4-5 years, but Lalpekhlua’s track record over the last decade establishes him as one of the most accomplished players of his generation after Chhetri. In the historical comparison of both players, Lalpekhlua is ahead without any doubt,” Sawyan said.

He added, “The issue here is that this is not the first time. Jeje has been overlooked twice in a row now by two undoubtedly extremely accomplished players but both of them are junior and have lesser national caps than him. This is not to take anything away from the two players who are currently among the country’s finest but this is about ensuring the recognition is given in a justified manner to our sportspersons.”

‘Lalpekhlua would have been first from Mizoram to get Arjuna’

The MFA, in its letter, also highlighted accolades Lalpekhlua brought for both his country and the football clubs he represented. Some of those mentioned are FPAI Best Young Player Award (2010–11), I-League Top Indian Goalscorer (2010-11), AIFF Emerging Player of the Year (2013), Indian Super League Top Indian Goalscorer (2014), Indian Super League Emerging Player of the League (2015), Top Indian Goalscorer in SAFF Championship 2015 (tied with Sunil Chhetri), Federation Cup Top Goalscorer (2015–16), Federation Cup Best Player (2015–16), FPAI Indian Player of the Year (2015–16) and AIFF Player of the Year (2016).

The letter further said he had won the I-League in 2014-15, Federation Cup in 2015-16, Indian Super League in 2015 and 2017-18, SAFF Championship in 2009, 2011 and 2015 and the Inter Continental Cup in 2018.

“We are not against any individual player, but we want to know the reason for his rejection. On what criteria was it decided that he is not good enough for the Arjuna while others are? If he is not good enough, why was he nominated three times?” Hmar questioned the government and the selection process.

The MFA secretary also said Lalpekhlua would have been the first person from Mizoram to get an Arjuna Award, had he won it.

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