Indian Olympic Association said the government has not done justice to sportspersons in regard to the Padma awards and feels Abhinav Bindra should have got "at least the Padma Vibhushan" while Vijender Singh and Sushil Kumar also ought to have been among the award winners.

"There cannot be a more disappointing thing than this. Abhinav achieved which no Indian could do in the last 108 years and for that he deserves at least Padma Vibhushan," said IOA General Secretary Randhir Singh.

"Boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar, who won bronze medals in the Beijing Games, were completely ignored. You expect sportspersons to bring glory to the country but you don't encourage them. It downgrades the position of the sportspersons. What more can the two poor chaps do to get the award?" he wondered.

Vijender and Sushil Kumar have already expressed their disappointment at being overlooked for the Padma awards.

Abhinav surprised: India's first individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Tuesday expressed surprise at Beijing Games bronze medal winners Vijender Singh and Sushil Kumar being left out of the list of Padma awardees.

"I am really surprised," Abhinav said.

"Initially, they were recognised by the government. I have no idea what the criteria are (for the Padma awards) but we as a nation need to support our Olympic athletes whether in victory or defeat because they will only bring us the global recognition in the field of sports," he said.

"We need to encourage our Olympic athletes," he added. Abhinav, who fetched the first-ever individual Olympic gold medal in 108 years of India's Olympic history, has been was honoured with Padma Bhushan for his historic feat in the men's 10 metre air rifle shooting event at the Beijing Games.

But boxer Vijender and wrestler Sushil were ignored as five sportspersons, including cricketers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh, were in the list of 93 eminent Padma awardees.