Khel Ratna Awards: 'The decision is now in the hands of the country', Manu's father suspects conspiracy on Khel Ratna, know what he said

Top pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, who was reportedly not nominated for the country's biggest sports award Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna despite creating history by winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, has left the final decision on this award to the people of the country. The controversy started when the committee deciding on the National Sports Awards did not recommend Manu's name and instead put forward the name of Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh for the Khel Ratna award. Now Manu's father Ram Kishan's reaction has come to the fore on this matter. He said that Manu knows that she deserves the award, but she has left the decision to the country.

'The country should decide on Khel Ratna'

In an interview with Telecom Asia Sport, Ram Kishan quoted Manu Bhaker as saying, 'She feels she deserves it. But she wants the country to decide it.' The Sports Ministry has said that the 22-year-old shooter did not apply for the Khel Ratna, but her family's statement is different from this. Manu's father Ram Kishan told Telecom Asia Sport, 'She has been applying for various awards like Padma Shri for the last four years. So why won't she apply this year?'

The father said - 49 applications were rejected.

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 were rejected. He said, 'Despite such a brilliant performance, if Manu's name was not suggested for Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna, then I feel that everything is not right in the committee or some order is being followed. If we have to make India a hub of sports, then Olympic medalists and Olympians should still be respected and encouraged and not discouraged by such decisions.'

Manu Bhaker created history in Paris.

Manu Bhaker created history by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal by winning a bronze medal in the women's 10-meter air pistol event at the Paris Olympic Games. She won one medal in the mixed 10m air pistol team event with Sarabjot Singh and one bronze medal in singles. This is the first time any Indian has won two medals in the same Olympics since independence.

Manu came into controversy at the beginning of the year.

At the beginning of the year, Bhaker came into controversy by posting on social media. She had questioned whether she deserved the Khel Ratna award. The post had fueled controversies. Critics considered it inappropriate. Bhaker was later forced to delete it. Despite that controversy, now her supporters are angry that her name missing from the list of candidates for the Khel Ratna Award.

Manu shut the mouth of critics in Paris.

The performance of this 22-year-old shooter in Paris defined the determination and perseverance of the years. Especially after the heartbreaking campaign of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she made a tremendous comeback. The pistol malfunction in Tokyo derailed her campaign. Many had doubted her ability to make a comeback, but Bhaker silenced her critics with a stunning comeback in Paris.

Manu's other achievements

Her achievements are not limited to the Olympic podium. Bhaker has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. She won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the women's 10m air pistol event and also set a record at those Games. She also won the women's 25m pistol team event at the 2022 Asian Games.