Manu Bhaker’s Father Questions Olympic Medallist’s Khel Ratna Snub: “Not a Job Where She Should Apply”

Manu Bhaker made history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal. She clinched a bronze medal in the women’s individual 10m air pistol event and followed it up with another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh. Despite her historic achievements, controversy arose when she was overlooked for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.

While Manu acknowledged lapses on her part in filing the nomination on social media, her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, voiced his concerns about the nomination process. Speaking to NDTV, he said, “Nomination and recommendation are completely on the individual. There were 12 people on the desk, including a retired judge and some bureaucrats. Unfortunately, there were no discussions on her name. Bureaucrats should not be involved in such decisions. Is there a lack of sportspersons in the country?”

Criticizing the need for athletes to apply for such honours, he added, “This is not a job where one needs to apply. These awards are meant to be a recognition of an athlete’s achievements, bestowed by the government. Whenever Manu asked if she should apply, I told her that when you achieve something big, the awards will come to you automatically.”

Manu Bhaker herself addressed the issue, emphasizing that her focus remains on her performance and winning more medals for the country. She urged people to avoid speculating about the matter, stating, “As an athlete, my role is to play and perform for my country. My motivation to bring glory to India will never waver, regardless of awards.”

The incident has sparked a debate on the nomination process for national honours, with many questioning whether the current system adequately recognizes deserving athletes.

News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”