Following a commotion a day after Manu Bhaker’s name was left off of the list of candidates suggested for the coveted Khel Ratna award, it is rumored that it will probably be added to the final list when Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya makes a decision on the subject in a few days. Only Harmanpreet Singh, the captain and drag flicker of the India men’s hockey team, and Praveen Kumar, the gold medallist in para high jump at the Paris Paralympics and the silver medallist in Tokyo three years prior, were recommended for the nation’s top sports award, though there was no official announcement. There was outrage when Bhaker, whose name was seen as a formality after she made history by winning two medals at the Olympics in Paris earlier this year, was not taken into consideration.
Although a ministry official stated that “this is not the final list, there is a process involved,” the sports ministry and the 12-member awards committee were criticized.
In addition to former women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal, boxer Vijender Singh, and cricket legend Anil Kumble, the awards selection committee is led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubramanian.The committee is expected to take into account applicants, but it also has the authority to talk about names that are not on that list if necessary.
In a letter to Secretary-Sports Sujata Chaturvedi on Monday, the Shooting Federation (NRAI) urged the ministry to take Bhaker into consideration for the Khel Ratna on “exceptional grounds.”
Speaking to a media house, NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo said: “We don’t even know if she applied or not, but if she did, I don’t think the committee had any reason to not consider her. If she didn’t apply, there’s nothing the committee could’ve done. We’re hopeful the ministry understands our point of view and gives her the award she so thoroughly deserves.”
Manu Bhaker accepts lapse
On Tuesday, Bhakar sought to put the issue to rest in her first comments on the issue. Bhaker wrote, “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. Awards and recognition keep me motivated but are not my goal. I believe there has been a lapse, maybe on my part while filing for the nomination which is being corrected. 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 matter”.
In Paris, she took home bronze in the 10m air pistol solo and mixed team competitions (with Sarabjot Singh).
