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Manu’s father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, took his frustrations out on the government as he highlighted the blind eye the country turns to every type of athlete except for cricketers.
Manu Bhaker. (Picture Credit: AP)
Controversy has been rife, and many are already up in arms about the double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker’s reported exclusion from the nominees list for this year’s Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, with her father venting his frustrations at the government for their ignorance.
In August, Bhaker became independent India’s first athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics with her bronze-winning show in the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team events.
Reports of her omission from the national honours evoked shock with her family insisting that application was duly submitted.
Manu’s father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, took his frustrations out on the government as he highlighted the blind eye the country turns to every type of athlete except for cricketers.
“I regret putting her in the sport of shooting. I should have instead made her a cricketer. Then, all the awards and accolades would have come her way. She won two Olympic medals in a single edition, no one has ever done that. What else do you expect my child to do for the country? The govt must recognise her efforts,” Ram Kishan stated in an interview with Times of India.
“I spoke to Manu, and she was disheartened by all this. She told me ‘I shouldn’t have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country. In fact, I shouldn’t have become a sportsperson’.”
While the sports ministry has said that the 22-year-old shooter did not apply for the Khel Ratna, her family differs from the statement.
“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 speaking exclusively with Telecom Asia Sport.
According to Ram Kishan, in the last few years, Manu had submitted 49 cash award applications which she was entitled to, however, all 49 applications had been rejected.
But in an interesting development, a top sports ministry source has also asserted that no application of Bhaker had been received through the standard procedure as of yet.
However, it was also mentioned that the Minister can recommend two more names over and above for the committee recommendations.
It is believed that the final list of candidates who qualify for the awards are likely to be announced day after tomorrow.
