Indian shooting sensation Manu Bhaker, who won two silver medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, feels sorry to have missed the valuable Khel Ratna award shortlist. Her father, who publicly expressed his regret over her sport choice—even suggesting that Manu’s achievements may have been correctly recognized had she chosen for cricket—shares the young shooter’s sadness.
As the first Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals in the same Games, Manu Bhaker made history at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Although her outstanding shooting performance was a source of national pride, she was not nominated for the Khel Ratna award, the nation’s top sports prize, in spite of these historic achievements.
Manu father’s expressed
His disapproval and rage in an interview with the Times of India. He drew attention to the fact that Manu’s name was left off of the final list of 30 nominees when her entry for the prize was filed online. However, there is a difference between the shooter’s account of events and the Sports Ministry’s statement, which claims that Manu did not submit her name for selection.
“I Should Have Made Her a Cricketer” is a father’s regret.
The father of Manu Bhaker was deeply upset by his daughter’s choice to become a professional shooter. She would have gotten more attention, approval, and prizes if she had chosen cricket instead, he stated, noting that in reflection he regretted bringing her to the sport.
I ought to have turned her into a cricket player instead. Then she would have received all the honors and attention. No one has ever won two Olympic medals in one edition like she did. “What more do you want my child to get done for the nation?” he complained.
His regret went beyond the Khel Ratna’s particular snub to include the way athletes in specialized sports are generally treated. He claimed that Manu had not received the credit she was due for her remarkable achievements on the international scene.
The Effect on Manu Bhaker Emotions
Manu has suffered a great deal emotionally as a result of the situation. Manu’s father confessed during their talk that the gunman was already growing disgusted with the system. In any case, her father revealed, “The federation has gone to the ministry and asked the officials to put her name on it.”
Manu claimed told her father, “I shouldn’t have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country,” after feeling so let down by being passed over. Actually, I shouldn’t have chosen a career in sports.
The Manu Bhaker debate around the Khel Ratna Award
One of the greatest honors given to Indian athletes, the Khel Ratna award is frequently regarded as the highest level of achievement in sports. However, there has always been controversy about the award’s nomination process. Manu’s frustration has been increased by the confusion around whether or not she submit her application for approval.
Manu Bhaker’s disappointment ultimately serves as a reminder of how far the Indian sports development has yet to recognize the successful achievements of athletes in all sports. Despite their unhappiness, her father’s remarks also highlight a bigger issue that must be solved for Indian sports’ future.
