Manu Bhaker, India's first athlete to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games since independence, has been overlooked for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award this year. The award is India's highest honour for sportspersons.
Despite making history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Bhaker’s name was absent from the list of nominees. She became the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal, securing bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event.
Bhaker also won another bronze in the mixed 10m air pistol team event with Sarabjot Singh.
Her father, Ramkishan Bhaker, expressed his disappointment on social media platform X, posting, "Yeh bhi thk hai (This is also right)," along with a news article about the snub.
According to sources, Bhaker had applied for the Khel Ratna award but was not selected. "Manu Bhaker indeed applied, but strangely didn’t get picked. It is shocking for everyone. The NRAI (National Rifle Association of India) has no role in this," said a source close to the shooter.
In support of Bhaker, NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has written to the Sports Ministry, urging them to reconsider her case.
Earlier this year, Bhaker faced criticism for a social media post questioning if she deserved the Khel Ratna Award. Though she later deleted the post, the omission of her name from the nominee list has reignited the debate and drawn widespread disappointment from her supporters.
At 22, Bhaker’s performance in Paris showcased her resilience, especially after a challenging outing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where a pistol malfunction ended her campaign prematurely. She silenced critics with a remarkable comeback, proving her mettle in shooting sports.
Beyond the Olympics, Bhaker has an impressive record. She won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the women’s 10m air pistol event, setting a Games record. She also secured gold at the 2022 Asian Games in the women’s 25m pistol team event.
Bhaker’s journey in shooting sports began with a bang when, at just 16, she became the youngest Indian shooter to win gold at the ISSF World Cup in 2018. Her achievements have firmly established her as one of India’s finest athletes, making the Khel Ratna snub even more surprising.
While cricket often dominates India’s sports scene, Bhaker’s story highlights the immense potential in shooting sports and the need to celebrate achievements beyond the cricket field.
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