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India double Olympics medallist Shooter Manu Bhaker's name was missing from the nomination list for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. Retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubramaniam who was leading the 12-member selection committee recommended two players, India hockey men's team captain Harmanpreet Singh and men's high jump T64 class Paris Paralympics gold medallist Praveen Kumar. Harmanpreet Singh-led India clinched the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics 2024 and Praveen won gold in the men's high jump T64 class with an Asian record at the Paris Paralympics.
How Manu Bhaker can be conferred with Khel Ratna award?
Manu who created history by becoming India's first-ever athlete after freedom to clinch two medals in a single edition of games can be conferred with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award as this is not the final list. The final list will be out after the approval of the Sports Minister Mansukh L. Mandaviya and he can add names.
"A final list is to be out and we are in the process of finalising it in a couple of days it should be out. It's a recommendation and the final list always comes out with the approval of the minister. A meeting with the sports minister is likely to be held on Wednesday with the committee" said Ministry sources close to Sports Tak.
Manu Bhaker's achievements in Paris Olympics 2024
The young India shooter Manu clinched two bronze medals in Paris Olympics and she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. She clinched her first bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event. Manu's second medal came in the 10m air pistol mixed team where she teamed up with Sarabjot Singh.
Why Manu's name was missing for the nomination list?
As per TOI, the star shooter Manu did not apply for the award. However, the report quoted a source saying that Manu's family said that she had indeed sent in her application.
If a sportsperson, does not register for the award, then the selection committee can take a suo moto cognizance, depending on the achievements of the sportsperson.
Earlier, India pacer Mohammed Shami also did not apply for the Arjuna Award but he was nominated at the request of the BCCI. For Shami, the National Sports Day awards committee took suo moto cognizance.
