Manu Bhaker’s Khel Ratna Snub: A Controversial Decision

In a surprising turn of events, Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker’s name was absent from the list of nominees for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, stirring controversy within the sports community. Bhaker herself expressed disappointment with the omission, stating, “I think I deserve it, let the country decide.”

Historic Achievements Overlooked

The Khel Ratna is India’s highest sports honor, and Bhaker’s achievements at the Olympics certainly seemed worthy of recognition. In August, she made history by becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single Olympic edition, with a bronze in both the 10m air pistol individual and the 10m air pistol mixed team events.

Despite this remarkable success, her exclusion from the national honors list left her family shocked and disheartened. Bhaker’s father, Ram Kishan, shared with the Times of India his daughter’s disillusionment, saying, “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.'”

Family’s Disappointment and the Alleged Oversight

Hinting at dissatisfaction with the decision-making process, Ram Kishan expressed regret for steering his daughter towards shooting instead of cricket, a sport that could have potentially brought her more accolades. He lamented, “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 government must recognize her efforts.”

Ram Kishan suggested that the committee responsible for deciding national sports awards might have overlooked Bhaker’s achievements under some external influence. He remarked, “Despite such a fantastic performance if Manu is not recommended for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, then I am forced to believe that all is not well in the committee, or some orders were being followed.”

The Process Under Scrutiny

According to reports, the sports ministry claimed that the 22-year-old shooter did not apply for the Khel Ratna. However, her family insists otherwise, maintaining that she followed the necessary procedures. Ram Kishan, currently a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy, explained to PTI that Bhaker had been applying for awards consistently over the past few years.

“She had been applying for all awards, say Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan for the last two-three years continuously and I have proof of that,” he asserted.

Awaiting the Final Decision

Despite the current controversy, there remains a possibility that Bhaker’s name could be included on the final list of nominees. A top source from the sports ministry indicated that the selections were not yet final, and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya would be making a decision soon.

In the meantime, the award selection committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubraman, continues its deliberations. The panel, which includes notable athletes like former women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal, is working to finalize the list of nominees.

As the situation unfolds, the sports community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that adequately acknowledges Bhaker’s outstanding contributions to Indian sports.