Manu Bhakar snubbed from Khel Ratna nomination, officials claim she didn't apply; family responds
PTC News Desk: Double Olympic medalist, Manu Bhaker remained absent from the list of nominees for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award which is India's highest sporting honour. A 12-member National Sports Day committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Ramasubramam, did not recommend the shooter's name for the prestigious award.
Every year Indian government gives prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award to celebrate and honour the achievements of the athletes. In a shocking turn of events, India's shooter and double-medal winner Manu Bhaker's name is not in the list of the recommendations for the Khel Ratna.
The Sports Ministry has claimed that Manu Bhakar did not apply for the award, meanwhile her father has responded otherwise. Bhakers's father Ramakrishna said that they had applied for the award but did not hear back from the committee.
"We applied for the award but have heard nothing from the committee. Why are parents encouraging their kids to play; they should push them to become IRS officers in government," he said.
Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar were among the nominees for the Khel Ratna award.
Manu won two bronze medals -- one in women's 10m air pistol event and the other one along with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed 10m pistol event.
If an athlete does not register for the award, then the selection committee can take a suo moto cognizance, depending on the achievements of the sportsperson. Earlier Indian pacer Mohammad Shami was Awarded with Arjuna award, he did not apply for. However, after BCCI's intervention,
he National Sports Day awards committee took suo moto cognizance.
- PTC NEWS
