Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has been excluded from the list of nominees for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award this year. Her omission has shocked supporters, especially after her historic performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Bhaker made history by becoming the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal, clinching bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event. She followed it up with another bronze in the mixed 10m air pistol team event alongside Sarabjot Singh. Bhaker is the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics since independence.
Sources revealed that Bhaker applied for the award but was not selected. “Manu Bhaker indeed applied for Khel Ratna but wasn’t picked. It is shocking for all. NRAI has no role in it,” a source close to the shooter stated.
The NRAI President, Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, has written to the Sports Ministry, urging them to reconsider Bhaker’s exclusion. Earlier this year, Bhaker sparked a controversy by questioning her eligibility for the Khel Ratna in a now-deleted social media post. Critics deemed her post inappropriate, which some believe may have influenced the decision.
Bhaker’s Remarkable Career
At 22, Bhaker’s achievements in Paris reflect her resilience after the heartbreak of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where a pistol malfunction ruined her campaign. Her Olympic success capped a year of milestones, adding to her legacy of Commonwealth Games and Asian Games gold medals.
In 2018, Bhaker became the youngest Indian shooter to win gold at the ISSF World Cup. Her Paris performance silenced critics and solidified her place as one of India’s greatest shooters. The decision to exclude her has left fans and experts questioning the criteria for India’s highest sporting honor.