Manu Bhaker reacts to Khel Ratna nomination snub: 'There has been a lapse on my part'

Indian shooter Manu Bhaker, who won two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has broken her silence on her snub from the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna nominees list. Controversy erupted on Monday when the Sports Ministry claimed that Manu Bhaker had not registered her name for the Khel Ratna award nominations.

Bhaker and her family have however said that she had indeed registered her name for the award. Bhaker, though, admitted that there could have been a lapse from her part.

“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. I believe there has been a lapse, maybe on my part while filing for the nomination which is being corrected,” she wrote on social media on Tuesday.

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— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) December 24, 2024

Bhaker said that while awards and recognition are motivating factors, winning them are not among her goals. “Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my goal,” the 22-year-old added. “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,” she concluded.

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Manu Bhaker’s father speaks on omission from Khel Ratna nominees list

Manu Bhaker’s father Ram Kisha Bhaker reacted quite aggressively to the issue. “I regret putting her in the sport of shooting. I should have instead made her a cricketer. Then, all the awards and accolades would have come her way. She won two Olympic medals in a single edition, no one has ever done that. What else do you expect my child to do for the country?," he told the Times of India.

He said that Manu was disheartened by the developments surrounding the Khel Ratna awards saga. “The government must recognise her efforts. I spoke to Manu, and she was disheartened by all this. She told me ‘I shouldn’t have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country. In fact, I shouldn’t have become a sportsperson’,” he added.

At the Paris Olympics, Manu won bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol events. She finished fourth in women’s 25m pistol final.