Soon after Paris Olympics double medallist shooter Manu Bhaker was reported to have been snubbed for the Khel Ratna 2024 honour, her father Ram Kishan has reacted strongly to the development, criticizing the award's selection committee members for being “silent”. (More Sports News)
Manu Bhaker Khel Ratna Snub: What's Point Of Getting Two Medals In Single Olympics, Father Asks
Manu Bhaker is the first Indian athlete post-Independence to win two medals in the same edition of the Olympic Games. The 22-year-old was honoured with the Arjuna award in 2020
"What's the point of getting two medals in single Olympics if you have to beg for awards," a Sports Tak report quoted Bhaker's father Ram Kishan as saying. "One government official is deciding and committee members are silent not giving their opinion. I don't understand. Is this the way you are encouraging athletes?" he added.
"We had applied for the award but have heard nothing from the committee. Why are parents encouraging their kids to play? They should push them to become IRS officers in the government," he further said.
A 12-member selection panel, headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Ramasubramanian has made the decision to not nominate Bhaker, according to a Times of India report. The report added that sports ministry officials said Bhaker didn't apply for the award, even though the above quote from her father seems to refute that. Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and para athlete Praveen Kumar have been recommended for the Khel Ratna, the report stated.
Bhaker is the first Indian athlete post-Independence to win two medals in the same edition of the Olympic Games. The 22-year-old was honoured with the Arjuna award in 2020. She is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting, and fourth from the country to win multiple medals at the Olympics after Norman Pritchard (athletics), Sushil Kumar (wrestling) and PV Sindhu (badminton).
Soon after her Paris 2024 exploits, Bhaker was trolled on social media for an alleged tweet asking for the Khel Ratna from the government. She had purportedly posted on X (formerly Twitter): ‘Tell me, Do I deserve the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. Thanks'. The post was said to be deleted later.
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