Paris Olympics medallist Manu Bhaker’s name has been left out of the nominees for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, India’s top sports accolade. A committee of 12 members for National Sports Day, led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubramam, did not propose the shooter's name for the esteemed award.
Although the Sports Ministry allegedly stated that Manu Bhaker did not submit a request for the award, her father, Ramakrishna, insisted that they did apply for the recognition and have not received any response from the committee.
Shocking Khel Ratna omission!
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) December 23, 2024
Shooter Manu Bhaker, double medalist at Paris Olympics is missing from the nominations list!
Reports claim she didn’t apply, but her family insists the application was sent
Notable nominees include Harmanpreet Singh, who led India to an Olympic… pic.twitter.com/7ON7L2Bl1I
In 2020, Manu Bhaker received the Arjuna Award. It is worth mentioning that Mohammed Shami received the Arjuna Award earlier this year even though the cricketer did not submit an application for it. The BCCI stepped in and advocated for his situation, prompting the National Sports Award committee to take suo moto notice.
Bhaker Faced Online Mockery
In a now-removed social media post earlier this year, Bhaker asked her followers if she deserved the 'Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.' Nonetheless, it received a backlash from fans, who criticized her for posting something like that.
No Khel Ratna Award for Manu Bhaker?
The 22-year-old shooter is reportedly not nominated for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award because she allegedly failed to submit an application, as stated by sports ministry officials. However, sources connected to her family maintain that she indeed submitted her application.
Bhaker's Unforgettable Return At Paris Olympics
After a pistol malfunction at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that led to no medals, she made a remarkable return in Paris, winning gold in both the CWG and Asian Games, particularly in the women's 25m pistol team competition at the 2022 Asian Games. In 2018, she made history as the youngest Indian to win gold at the World Cup and has reunited with coach Jaspal Rana for the upcoming 2024 Olympics.