Khel Ratna Omission: Manu Bhaker's Father Lashes Out At Committee, Ministry Says List 'Not Final'

Manu Bhaker's exclusion from the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award recommendation list has drawn a sharp reaction from her father, who expressed regret over encouraging her to pursue shooting.

India’s ace shooter Manu Bhaker, who made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning two bronze medals for India, was overlooked for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award as she did not make it to the 30 names shortlisted in the recommended list. With Manu Bhaker being the first Indian athlete to win two medals in the same Olympic Games, her father has expressed regret over encouraging her to pursue shooting, suggesting she should have been a cricketer instead.

While the ministry claimed that Manu Bhaker did not apply for the award, her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, stated that she had followed the proper procedure. 

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As per PTI, Khel Ratna committee has recommended Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, who led the team to a second consecutive Olympic bronze and para-athlete Praveen Kumar, who won gold in men’s high jump T64 at the Paris Paralympics.

I Regret Putting Her In Sport Of Shooting: Manu Bhaker's Father

In an interview with the Times of India, Manu Bhaker's father also criticised the sports ministry and the committee responsible for finalising the Khel Ratna nominees. 

"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? The govt 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'," Manu's father told the TOI.

Final List Yet To Be Announced?

Amid all this, a sports ministry official informed PTI that the final list of Khel Ratna nominees is yet to be decided, and Manu Bhaker’s name is likely to be included when it is announced in a week.

"There is no final list of nominees at this point. Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya will decide on the recommendations in a day or two and her name, in all likelihood, will be there in the final list," the ministry source said according to PTI.