After much debate surrounding India's double bronze medallist at the Paris Olympics Manu Bhaker's reported exclusion from this year's list of Khel Ratna awardees, the 22-year-old pistol shooter finally commented on the issue in the public domain, accepting all possibilities of a lapse by her side in filing nomination for the prestigious honour.
The controversy erupted when the National Sports Awards selection committee omitted Manu's name in its recommendations, despite historic achievements at the Paris Olympics. The Sports Ministry had to intervene on Monday to contain the fallout, but Manu took to social media to offer her perspective on the situation.
Posting on X, Manu stated that her primary focus remains on performing for her country, not on awards. "Regarding the current controversy surrounding my nomination for the most elite Khel Ratna award-I would like to clarify that as an athlete my duty is to play and perform for my country. Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my aim."
Admitting the possibility of an error during the nomination process, she added, "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. It is a request to everyone, please do not speculate on this," she urged.
Manu's father Ram Kishan said that his daughter knows that she deserves the award but has left it for the country to decide "I think I deserve it. Let the country decide," Manu was quoted as saying by her father in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport on Monday.
While the sports ministry stated that the 22-year-old shooter did not apply for the Khel Ratna, her family differs with 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.
Manu bagged bronze in the individual 10m air pistol and a second bronze with his partner Sarabjot Singh in the mixed team event at the Paris Olympics.
The Khel Ratna, officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, is India's highest sporting honor, and Manu's exclusion has been met with widespread debate over the nomination and selection process.
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