So it comes as a bit of a surprise when Eashen joined the legion of Indian sportspersons who have questioned the way the annual Arjuna Awards are awarded. The mild-mannered Eashen, who is in the Capital to register his protest, said, ``This has been the biggest shock of my life. Not even when I was injured or left out the team during my peak was I so upset.''

He goes on to add, ``I applied for the award long back, because not only had I won the shot put National title many times, but I also have an Asian Games bronze medal (in 1990) and an Asian Track and field bronze (in 1989), besides which I was fourth in 1991 Asians.''

Within 24 hours of theannouncement this year, KK Premachandran, one of India's finest quarter-milers after Milkha Singh, expressed his displeasure.

It was 400m runner Padmini Thomas -- after a protest -- last year and this year it was the turn of former hockey superstar of the 1960s Harmik Singh and Rajender Singh, who turned out for India in the first half of 1980s, to be rewarded.Interestingly many of the controversies about Arjuna Awards have come in athletics and from Karnataka. Some years back when the glamorous Ashwini Nachappa got the award, many of her erstwhile teammate, including Rosa Kutty, complained that they desereved it ahead of her. Rosa finally did get the award two years back. Around the same time as Nachappa, Vandana Rao's award too kicked-up lot of dust.Eashen, a one-time teammate of Reeth, says, ``I have nothing against Reeth. She is a good friend of mine. She deserves the award for winning the Nationals many times in heptathlon and long jump. I have been told she was chosen because of the long jump bronzemedal in the 1989 Asian Track and field meet in New Delhi.''The Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) has in the last few years washed its hands off this award. Says Lalit Bhanot, secretary of the AAFI, ``This award has created too much controversy. I do not want to get involved in it. So I advise athletes to directly apply with the Sports Authority of India or the Ministry.''Maybe one of the reasons why Bhanot prefers to shy away is his wife, Vijaymala Bhanot. The former discus and shot put champion won the National title 21 times in either Open nationals or Inter-state but was still bypassed for the award.Tailpiece: Within days of India winning the 4x100m relay gold at Fukuoka Asian Athletics championships, one of the relay members sent in an application for Arjuna Award to the federation!