A major controversy had arisen over the absence of Manu Bhaker from the preliminary list of candidates for the prestigious Khel Ratna award. Now it is reported that her name is likely to be added to the list, which will be decided by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the coming days.
Praveen Kumar, a para high jumper who won gold at the Paris Paralympics and silver at the Tokyo Games, and Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, are the only athletes on the current list. There was a lot of outrage over Bhaker’s exclusion because she was supposed to be there after making history by winning two medals at the Olympics in Paris earlier this year.
The first list of Khel Ratna award nominees drew criticism from the sports ministry and the 12-member awards committee. “This is not the final list; there is a process involved,” a ministry official stressed. Cricket star Anil Kumble, boxer Vijender Singh, and former women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal are among the prominent members of the awards selection committee, which retired Supreme Court judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian chairs. Although the committee is in charge of examining applications for the awards, it also has the power to talk about names that might not be on the official list if needed.
In a letter to Secretary of Sports Sujata Chaturvedi on Monday, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) requested that Manu Bhaker be given consideration for the Khel Ratna award on “exceptional grounds.” In an interview, NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo said, “We don’t even know if she applied or not, but if she did, I don’t think the committee had any reason to not consider her. If she didn’t apply, there’s nothing the committee could’ve done. We’re hopeful the ministry understands our point of view and gives her the award she so thoroughly deserves.”
Manu Bhaker’s statement
Talking about the matter publicly on Tuesday, Manu Bhaker said, “With regards to the 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 keep 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,” Bhaker wrote.
Alongside Sarabjot Singh, Bhaker won bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team competition and the 10m air pistol individual competition at the Olympics in Paris.
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