Double Olympic bronze medallist Manu Bhaker has been left out of this year’s Khel Ratna nominations, sparking controversy and disappointment among her fans and supporters. The 22-year-old pistol shooter, who made history at the Paris Olympics by becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition, was notably absent from the list of awardees.
The exclusion has led to widespread criticism, with Bhaker’s coach, Jaspal Rana, and her father, Ramkishan Bhaker, expressing their disappointment over the selection committee’s decision. They criticized the sports ministry and the committee for overlooking her monumental achievements. However, Bhaker herself addressed the issue on social media, acknowledging a possible oversight on her part while filing nominations.
Manu Bhaker responds to her snub from Khel Ratna nominations
In her statement, Bhaker emphasized that her primary focus remains on performing for her country, regardless of awards. She stated, “Awards and recognition keep me motivated but are not my goal. Irrespective of the award, I shall remain motivated to win more medals for my country.” This clarification came after the sports ministry intervened for damage control following the committee’s surprising decision.
Bhaker’s success at the Paris Olympics includes bronze medals in both the 10m air pistol individual event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh. Despite the controversy, Bhaker remains undeterred, focusing on her goal of winning more medals for India.
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