Manu Bhaker, the best shooter in India and the recipient of two bronze medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, is devastated by the Khel Ratna snub. Manu asserts that despite submitting her name through the award’s online site, she was not included in the 30-name shortlist. It is understandable that Manu, the nation’s first athlete to win two medals at the same Olympic Games, is upset that her name isn’t being considered for the nation’s top sporting accolade. Her father has even expressed sorrow for introducing her to a pastime like shooting. need to have turned her become a cricket player instead.
The sports ministry and the committee that finalised the list of Khel Ratna nominees were scathingly criticised by Manu Bhaker’s father. While the ministry has said that Manu didn’t submit her name for the award, the shooter contradicts it. “I regret putting her in the sport of shooting. I should have instead made her a cricketer. Then, all the awards and accolades would have come her way. She won two Olympic medals in a single edition, no one has ever done that. What else do you expect my child to do for the country? The govt must recognise her efforts. I spoke to Manu, and she was disheartened by all this. She told me ‘I shouldn’t have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country. In fact, I shouldn’t have become a sportsperson’,” Manu’s father told the news agency.
According to reports, Manu also entered her name on the website. According to reports, discussions are underway between the federation and the sports ministry to fully comprehend the situation. “She applied on the portal, according to Manu. The committee must have taken her name into consideration if that were the case. “The federation has approached the ministry and asked the officials to include her name, regardless of the circumstances,” the person stated.
According to reports, Manu has also submitted applications for the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour in the nation, and the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest honour. According to the report, the applications were made on September 15 via the Padma Awards website.
