Shooting
Explained: Why Manu Bhaker's name is missing from Khel Ratna nominations
The Ministry Youth Affairs and Sports has claimed that the Khel Ratna nominations list is not final.
Shooter Manu Bhaker. (Photo credit: Jio Cinema)
The end of 2024 has brought another controversy in the Indian sports landscape with the double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker allegedly overlooked from the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna – India's highest sporting honour – nominations.
As per a Times of India report, the shooter from Haryana was ignored for this year's Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. Instead, Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic gold medalist high jumper Praveen were the only two athletes nominated by the award selection committee.
The award selection committee is a 12-member panel headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubramam. It includes former athletes like Rani Rampal and others.
The alleged snub has led to the shooter's father Ram Kishan Bhaker, a merchant navy engineer, expressing his disappointment and stating that playing Olympic sports in India is worthless.
"There is no worth of playing Olympic sports in India because despite winning two medals in an Olympics, Manu has been ignored for the Khel Ratna award. There is no point in playing and winning rewards for your country and in turn begging for recognition," Ram Kishan told PTI.
"She had been applying for all awards, say Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan for the last 2-3 years continuously and I have proof of that. But even if she hasn't, the committee should consider her looking at her achievements," he added further.
On the other hand, Manu's coach Jaspal Rana has gone on to question the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, and the National Rifle Association of India, holding them responsible for the ignorance of his ward.
Questioning the process of awards in the country, Jaspal said, "I will hold all of them responsible. How can anyone even say Manu did not apply? She made history by becoming the first Indian to win two Olympic medals in the same Olympics. Her name should have been there automatically. Don't the people at the helm know who Manu Bhaker is and what are her credentials?
Sports Ministry says the list is not final.
While there has been visible anger among the general fans and other stakeholders, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has claimed that the list is not final.
A top sports ministry source has asserted that the names are yet to be finalized and she is likely to be there when the list is unveiled in a week as per Hindustan Times.
Another source from SAI told The Bridge that once the Sports Minister reviews the list, Manu's name will be on the list.
The ministry norms allow athletes to self-nominate instead of relying on federations and other institutions to do it on their behalf. The selection committee is, however, allowed to consider names that may not be among the applicants.
However, despite not applying for the awards, Manu's historic show at the Olympics makes a strong case for her consideration for the award.
Manu responds
Manu, meanwhile, put out a statement of her own on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
"With regards to ongoing issue for my nomination for the most prestigious Khel Ratna award – I would like to state that as an athlete my role is to play and perform for my country," wrote Manu. "Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my only goal."
She asserted that there might have been a lapse on her part while filing the nomination.
"I believe there has been a lapse, maybe on my part while filing for the nomination which is being corrected. Irrespective of the award I shall remain motivated to win more medals for my country. It is a request to everyone, please do not speculate on this matter," she added.
Manu was the stand-out performer for India at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She became the first Indian athlete post-independence to win two medals at a single edition of the Games, whilst also becoming the first Indian woman shooter to medal at the Olympics.
