In July 2024, shooting sensation Manu Bhaker became the first Indian athlete post-Independence era to claim two Olympic medals at a single Games and also registered herself as the first Indian female shooter to win a medal at the Olympics in Paris.
A few months later, despite such an incredible feat, Manu finds her name missing from the list of sportspersons nominated for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award – India’s highest sporting award.
While the sports ministry has said that the 22-year-old shooter did not apply Khel Ratna, her family differs from the statement.
She has been applying for various awards like Padmashri for the last 4 years. So why wouldn’t she apply this year?
Manu, on the other hand, clearly told her father:
I think I deserve it, let the country decide.
According to Ram Kishan, in the last few years, Manu had submitted 49 cash award applications which she was entitled to, however, all 49 applications had been rejected.
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. If we are to make India a sporting hub, then Olympic medallists, and Olympians in general, should be given respect and encouraged rather than discourage them with decisions like these
The netizens are now debating whether an iconic athlete such as Manu apply for an award like Khel Ratna or whether the committee should take a suo moto cognizance based on her historic achievements.
At the Paris Olympics, Manu clinched the first bronze medal in the women’s 10m individual air pistol event and teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to bag the second bronze.
