Bronze Medalist Olympian Manu Bhaker Sets The Records Straight Over Khel Ratna Snub: ‘Awards Motivate But Not My Goal’

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Even as netizens speculate vendetta politics over Manu Bhaker’s meet with the LoP Rahul Gandhi, the 22-year-old Olympic star from Haryana has set the records straight over the Dhyanchand Khel Ratna award snub row with a social media update. In her post, she stated 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.

She further urged her fans (and critics alike) to not speculate on the issue any further.

For the unversed, the double medalist shooter, Manu Bhaker, was not listed among the recent nominees for the prestigious sports award by the Government of India. Her father lamented having prepped her up for the grandest athletics and sports spectacle—the Olympics. He went as far as to suggest that it is better to train to become IAS or IPS officers, who have authority. “If you need money, then get them into cricket, and if you need power, then make them an IAS/IPS officer.” The statement had mixed reactions, even as Manu Bhaker’s coach Jaspal Rana slammed the Sports Ministry, SAI (Sports Authority of India), and the National Rifle Association of India for overlooking the star shooter’s achievements.

Meanwhile, the 12-member awards committee stated that the current list is not final as there is a process involved. The question is, why won’t a record-shattering dual medalist olympian automatically qualify for the awards? For those living under the rock, at the Paris Olympics 2024, Manu Bhaker became the first Indian post-independence to win a dual medal, with a bronze in individual event and another in mixed event.

See Also: Netizens In Disbelief As Shooter Manu Bhaker Gets Snubbed For Khel Ratna; Slam Politics In Sports

See Also: Olympian Manu Bhaker Claps Back At Trolls Over Public Appearances: ‘Know My Goal, Need No Reminder’

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