Snubbed by the Sports Ministry for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, the nation’s greatest sports activities award, regardless of making historical past by profitable two bronze medals within the Paris Olympic Games, ace pistol shooter Manu Bhaker has left the choice to the folks of the nation to make the ultimate name on whether or not she deserves the award or not. Controversy erupted after the committee to determine the nationwide sports activities awards didn’t advocate her identify and as a substitute put forth the names of Indian hockey workforce captain Harmanpreet Singh for the Khel Ratna Award, Manu’s father Ram Kishan, completely instructed Telecom Asia Sport that she is aware of that she deserves the award however has left it for the nation to determine
“I think I deserve it. Let the country decide,” Manu was quoted as saying by her father in an unique interview with Telecom Asia Sport on Monday.
While the sports activities ministry has mentioned that the 22-year-old shooter didn’t apply for the Khel Ratna, her household differs from the assertion.
“She has been applying for various awards like Padma Shri for the last four years. So why wouldn’t she apply this year?” questioned Manu’s father Ram Kishan talking completely with Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.web).
According to Ram Kishan, in the previous few years, Manu had submitted 49 money award functions which she was entitled to, nevertheless, all 49 functions had been rejected.
“Despite such a fantastic performance if Manu is not recommended for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, then I am forced to believe that all is not well in the committee, or some orders were being followed. If we are to make India a sporting hub, then Olympic medallists, and Olympians in general, should be given respect and encouraged rather than discourage them with decisions like these,” Ram Kishan added.
Manu Bhaker made historical past within the Paris Olympic Games by changing into the primary Indian feminine shooter to win an Olympic medal by clinching bronze within the girls’s 10m air pistol occasion. She adopted that up with one other bronze within the blended 10m air pistol workforce occasion alongside Sarabjot Singh, marking the primary time any Indian has gained two medals in a single Olympics since India’s independence.
Earlier this yr, Bhaker discovered herself on the middle of an argument after posting on social media, questioning whether or not she deserved the Khel Ratna Award. The put up drew backlash, with critics deeming it inappropriate, main Bhaker to delete it. Despite the controversy, the absence of her identify from the record of nominees has sparked widespread disappointment amongst her supporters.
The 22-year-old shooter’s efficiency in Paris was a fruits of years of dedication and perseverance, particularly after enduring the heartbreak of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the place a pistol malfunction derailed her marketing campaign. Many had doubted her capability to bounce again, however Bhaker silenced her critics with a shocking comeback in Paris.
Her achievements aren’t confined to the Olympic podium. Bhaker additionally added to her illustrious report, which already consists of gold medals on the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. She claimed gold on the 2018 CWG within the girls’s 10m air pistol occasion, setting a Games report, and triumphed on the 2022 Asian Games within the girls’s 25m pistol workforce occasion.
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