Manu Bhaker Asserts Her Worthiness After Khel Ratna Oversight
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New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) Overlooked by the Sports Ministry for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, despite achieving an incredible milestone by securing two bronze medals at the Paris Olympic Games, renowned pistol shooter Manu Bhaker has placed the decision in the hands of the public regarding her deservingness of the accolade.
Controversy arose after the committee responsible for determining national sports awards did not recommend her name, instead favoring Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh for the Khel Ratna Award. Manu's father, Ram Kishan, revealed in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport that she is confident in her deservingness of the award but has decided to let the nation make the ultimate judgment.
"I think I deserve it. Let the country decide," Manu was quoted as saying by her father in the exclusive interview.
While the sports ministry contends that the 22-year-old shooter did not apply for the Khel Ratna, her family disputes this assertion.
“She has been applying for various awards like Padma Shri for the past four years. So why wouldn’t she apply this year?” questioned Manu’s father Ram Kishan during his conversation with Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).
According to Ram Kishan, over the past few years, Manu submitted a total of 49 cash award applications she was eligible for, yet all were turned down.
“Despite such a fantastic performance if Manu is not recommended for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, then I am compelled to believe that something is amiss within the committee, or certain directives are being followed. If we aspire to make India a sporting hub, then Olympic medallists and Olympians should receive respect and encouragement rather than discouragement through decisions like this,” Ram Kishan added.
Manu Bhaker made history during the Paris Olympic Games by becoming the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal, securing a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event. She further distinguished herself by winning another bronze in the mixed 10m air pistol team event alongside Sarabjot Singh, marking the first instance an Indian has clinched two medals in a single Olympics since India’s independence.
Earlier this year, Bhaker found herself embroiled in controversy after she posted on social media, questioning whether she deserved the Khel Ratna Award. The post attracted backlash, with critics deeming it inappropriate, prompting Bhaker to delete it. Despite the controversy, the omission of her name from the list of nominees has ignited widespread disappointment among her supporters.
The 22-year-old shooter’s exceptional performance in Paris was a result of years of determination and resilience, especially after facing the setback of a pistol malfunction during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which derailed her campaign. Many doubted her ability to recover, but Bhaker silenced her critics with a remarkable comeback in Paris.
Her achievements extend beyond the Olympic podium. Bhaker has also added to her impressive accolades, which include gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. She claimed gold at the 2018 CWG in the women’s 10m air pistol event, setting a Games record, and triumphed at the 2022 Asian Games in the women’s 25m pistol team event.
