Manu Bhaker Breaks Silence on Khel Ratna Controversy, Admits Possible Nomination Mistake; Sports Ministry to Nominate
Shooter Manu Bhaker broke her silence on the controversy regarding her name being included in the Khel Ratna award nomination list on Tuesday. She stated, “I believe there may have been some mistake from my side while filing the nomination, which is currently being rectified.”
She further added, “I am excited about the award, but it is not my ultimate goal. I will continue to strive to win more medals for my country.”
According to reports, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) did not send Bhaker’s name for the Khel Ratna award, but after the controversy, the association has now reached out to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the nomination. The ministry is now preparing to nominate Manu for the award. The government may grant Manu Bhaker the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Under provisions of Article 5.1 and 5.2, the ministry may nominate Manu. The rules state that if an athlete meets the guidelines set for the Khel Ratna award, they can nominate themselves for the award. Additionally, the ministry has the authority to send up to two names for the award. Notably, Manu Bhaker’s father, Ramkishan Bhaker, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation a day earlier.
Manu Bhaker’s Key Points
Despite the controversies, Bhaker continues to focus on her performance. In a post on social media, she stated:
“I want to say that as an athlete, my role is to serve and perform for my country. I believe there may have been some mistake from my side while filing the nomination, which is currently being rectified. I am excited about the awards, but it is not my ultimate goal. I will continue to strive to win more medals for my country.”
Names Not Finalized Yet: Sports Ministry
A source from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports stated, “The names have not been finalized yet, and the awards could be announced in a week. The Sports Minister will make a decision on this matter in the next day or two. There is a strong possibility that Manu’s name will appear in the final list.”
A day earlier, Manu Bhaker’s father, Ramkishan Bhaker, had claimed that Manu was being overlooked for the Khel Ratna Award. Following his statement, the National Sports Award nomination list became a topic of controversy. Previously, Manu Bhaker’s name was not included in the list. The list was first released by Bhaskar, which did not mention Manu Bhaker’s name.
Manu’s Father Expresses Discontent
A few days ago, media reports claimed that Manu Bhaker’s name was not included in the Khel Ratna nomination list. Manu’s father expressed his discontent regarding this issue.
He said that Manu had applied for the award but was overlooked. “The importance of the Olympic Games is not recognized in India. What is the point of winning medals for the country when one has to beg for recognition? For the past two to three years, she has been consistently applying for all awards, and I am a witness to this. This includes the Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, and Padma Bhushan awards.”
Manu Wins Double Medal at Paris Olympics
Manu Bhaker won double Olympic medals at the Paris Olympics held in August-September. She secured third place in both the 10-meter Air Pistol Individual and Mixed Doubles events. Thanks to her two medals, India went on to win a total of six medals at the Paris Olympics.
