Manu Bhaker’s Father Expresses Regret Over Her Pursuit of Shooting

New Delhi: Indian shooter Manu Bhaker, who made history by winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has expressed disappointment over her exclusion from the prestigious Khel Ratna award shortlist. Despite her remarkable achievement, which made her the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympic edition, Manu’s name was not included in the 30 candidates nominated for the award. Manu’s father, Ram Kishan, voiced his regret about encouraging her to pursue shooting, suggesting that perhaps he should have directed her towards cricket instead, where he believes she would have received more recognition and accolades.

Ram Kishan’s comments came after the sports ministry and the selection committee clarified that Manu did not submit her application for the Khel Ratna award. However, both Manu and her father have denied this claim, stating that she did, in fact, apply through the official portal. Manu’s father criticized the sports ministry and the selection committee for overlooking his daughter’s achievements. He mentioned that Manu was upset by the snub and even expressed that perhaps she should not have pursued a career in sports at all, considering the lack of recognition she received despite her Olympic success.

In response to the controversy, the Ministry of Sports has stated that the final list of awardees has not yet been decided, and there is still a possibility that Manu’s name could be included in the final recommendation. The committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge V. Ramasubramanian, is also reportedly reviewing her case. Manu Bhaker, who has previously applied for the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards, hopes that the recognition for her contribution to Indian sports will come soon.

The selection process has sparked further discussions on how athletes are nominated and recognized in the country, especially when it comes to such prestigious awards. With her groundbreaking performance at the 2024 Olympics, Manu Bhaker’s exclusion has led to a wider debate about the fairness and transparency of the nomination process in Indian sports.