New Delhi: Para-athlete Devendra Jhajharia accused the government of ignoring the achievements of differently-abled sportspersons in the country, saying that the sports ministry did not even bother to congratulate him after he won a gold medal in the world championship.

Devendra, who clinched gold in javelin throw in the World Paralympics Championship recently, was sad that the government never considered him for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

“In Athens Paralympics, I won a gold medal, which brought me the Padmashri award. But I had expected them to consider me for Khel Ratna too,” said the soft-spoken one-armed javelin thrower, on Wednesday.

“For four years, I was the world No. 1 in my category. When I won the Olympic gold, I did it with a throw that turned out to be a world record.

“What more am I supposed to do to qualify for Khel Ratna?” asked the Indian Railways employee.