'What's the point of getting 2 medals in single Olympics if you have to beg for awards': Manu Bhaker's father lashes out over Khel Ratna award snub

Manu not in Khel Ratna nominees list: Won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics 2024 to create history, shooter Manu Bhaker was the major absentee from the list of athletes recommended for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.

Nitin Srivastava

• Mon • 23 Dec 2024

Manu Bhaker poses with her parents; Manu during the Paris Olympics 2024.

Highlights:

Manu Bhaker's father is disappointed over daughter facing Khel Ratna snub.

Manu Bhaker's father said that they have applied for the award.

Manu Bhaker's father said that they are yet to hear from the committee.

Khel Ratna nominees List: Star India shooter Manu Bhaker who won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics 2024 has not been recommended for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. The two names recommended by the 12-member selection committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Ramasubramaniam are India hockey men's team captain Harmanpreet Singh and men's high jump T64 class Paris Paralympics gold medallist Praveen Kumar. Reacting to the snub, Manu's father Ram Kishan Bhaker expressed his disappointment.

"What's the point of getting two medals in single Olympics if you have to beg for awards," Ram Kishan said in an exclusive conversation with Sports Tak.

"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 asked.

"We had applied for the award but have heard nothing from the committee .

"Why parents are encouraging their kids to play they should push them for becoming irs officers in government."

ALSO READ: Smashed Sri Lanka pacer for 28 runs in an over, Mumbai Indians' surprise recruit gets maiden T20I call-up as New Zealand announce squads for home series

Manu Bhaker's monumental Olympics feat

Manu became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medla in shooting. She won the bronze medal in women's 10m air pistol event. She joined forces with Sarabjot Singh to win bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event as well. The 22-year-old is the first Indian athlete since independece to win two medals at a single Olympics edition.

ALSO READ: Champions Trophy 2025: India, Pakistan to lock horns on this date and venue, full schedule for Rohit Sharma-led side revealed!

Also, the Haryana-born shooter is in the elite list of Indian athletes with two Olympic medals. The others on the list are javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and badminton star PV Sindhu.

Manu's next target

After winning two bronze medals, Manu has her eyes set on converting it to a gold at the Los Angeles Olympic Games 2028.

"For me the target will be the journey to gold in the Olympic games, so the next thing will be LA for me," Manu said at Economic Times' World Leaders Forum 2024 after returning from Paris. "However, I am on a short break for now. It's been eight and a half years that I took a break from my sport. So right now is the time when I'm like 3 months, 4 months (break) I will take and then start back with my training again for LA 2028."