India's star shooter Manu Bhakar brought glory to the country by winning a medal in the Paris Olympics in 2024. Manu won 2 bronze medals in the Paris Olympics and became the first athlete in the country to do so. After this historic achievement, Manu was showered with awards and praised across the country. But the news of his name not being included for the country's biggest sports award, Dhyanchand Khelratna Award, has created a sensation. After this claim, now the Sports Ministry is claiming that the final decision has not been taken yet and there is a possibility of Manu's name being in the final list.
On Monday 23 December, it was claimed in some media reports that Manu had not found a place in the names selected for the Khel Ratna Award. After his brilliant performance in the Paris Olympics, everyone must have expected that Manu would get the country's most prestigious sports honour. Manu himself might have thought the same but the report claims that the Sports Ministry has selected hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and paraathlete Praveen Kumar for this.
After this report came out, Manu's family also expressed their displeasure. However, now the top source of the Sports Ministry has said that the names for this award have not been decided yet. This source has claimed that the names will be revealed within a week. He also said that Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will take a decision in a day or two and then there is every possibility of Manu Bhakar's name being in the final list.
Meanwhile, it was also claimed by the Ministry that Manu had not applied for Khel Ratna but the family of the star shooter had rejected this claim. Manu's father Ramkishan Bhakar while talking to PTI said that if one has to spread one's hands for honour, then what is the use of winning a medal for the country. He also said, “Olympics have no importance in India because despite winning two medals, Manu was ignored for Khelratna.”
Manu had won two medals in Paris Olympics. She had first won the bronze medal in women's 10 meter air pistol and then also won bronze in the mixed team event. She stood fourth in 25 meter shooting. She became the first athlete from India to win two medals in the same Olympics. As far as the award is concerned, a committee of 12 members has been formed under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Justice V Ramasubramaniam. Under the rules, the players themselves can give names for the award, while the committee can also consider the names of those who have not applied.
