"I shouldn't have won medals...": Devastated Manu Bhaker breaks silence over Khel Ratna snub; Sports Ministry mulls awarding her
PTC News Desk: Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker is devastated over her exclusion from the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award list. India's ace shooter and twin medal winner scripted history in the 2024 Paris Olympics as she became first sportsperson from the country to win two medals in the same Olympic Games.
Bhaker's omission from the list of nominees has sparked a massive row after her father claimed that the athlete had already applied for the prestigious award, however the committee did not recommend her name.
Seemingly disappointed over the same Bhaker broke silence over the row and said as quoted by her father, "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".
Earlier Manu Bhaker's father took a sharp dig at the sports ministry and the committee finalising the list of 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," said
Manu Bhaker's exclusion has received severe backlash from sports fraternity prompting the Sports Ministry to second thought their decision. The ministry is considering her name for the country's highest sports honour with suo moto cognizance, an executive power vested in the provisions of the National Sports Day awards scheme.
- PTC NEWS
