As per a circular from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, dated April 17, the awardee, henceforth, has to be present in person to receive the award from the President and no person other than him/her will be allowed to receive it.

The circular, issued by Injeli Srinivas, joint secretary in the sports ministry, two days after the incident, says any awardee unable to attend the ceremony for compelling reasons must intimate the ministry in advance, and on leave of absence being granted, alternative arrangements will be made to let him receive the award from the sports minister.

'In the event of a sports person not giving such prior intimation, the award so conferred will stand withdrawn,' the circular added.