Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medal winner, recently made news after reports said her name was missing from the list of athletes nominated for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. This award is given to athletes with outstanding performances.
Manu Bhaker Speaks Out on Khel Ratna Award Controversy
Many questioned the Sports Ministry because Manu, the first Indian since independence to win two Olympic medals in one Games, was not included. However, Manu has now said there might have been a mistake on her side and that it is being fixed.
Manu Bhaker took to her social media and wrote: “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. Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my goal. 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,”
Manu Bhaker’s coach, Jaspal Rana, has criticized the Sports Ministry, the Sports Authority of India, and the National Rifle Association of India. He blamed them for “ignoring” Manu’s achievements and not considering her for the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
In an interview, Rana 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? This humiliation might just affect her progress,”
The national coach believes the “new rule” requiring athletes to apply directly for awards is not good for sports and feels it’s somewhat disrespectful.
According to the ministry’s rules, athletes can nominate themselves instead of depending on federations or other bodies. However, the selection committee can still consider athletes who didn’t apply.
Manu Bhaker’s father’s big statement on the controversy
While the ministry says Manu Bhaker didn’t apply for the award, her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, a Merchant Navy chief engineer, insists that she followed all the required steps.
“I think I deserve it. Let the country decide,” Manu was quoted as saying by her father in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport on Monday.
“She has been applying for various awards like Padma Shri for the last four years. So why wouldn’t she apply this year?”
Manu Bhaker’s father, Mr. Ram Kishan further revealed that in the last few years, Manu had submitted 49 cash award applications which was entitled to, however, all her applications had been rejected. Her father revealed:
“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,”
