India’s Manu Bhaker prepares to compete in the 10m air pistol mixed team bronze medal event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. AP/PTI(AP07_30_2024_000164A)
With the sporting world up in arms on Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker’s name apparently not getting included in the list of Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardees, the shooter on Tuesday said that “there has been a lapse may be on my part” while filing the nominations.
A day after the sports ministry had to do damage control by insisting that the list of awardees is yet to be finalised, Bhaker took to social media to clarify her position on not being among those recommended for the country’s highest sporting honour.
“With regards to ongoing issue for my nomination for the most prestigious Khel Ratna award — I would like to state that as an athlete my role is to play and perform for my country. I believe there has been a lapse, maybe on my part while filing for the nomination which is being corrected,” Bhaker wrote on X.
— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) December 24, 2024
The Haryana shooter said her aim is to perform for the country and it would not change whether she gets an award or not.
“Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my goal. 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 said.
Bhaker had opened the Indian account in the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning a bronze in the women’s 10-metre air pistol event, making her the first woman shooter from India to win a medal at any Olympics.
Following this, she had bagged another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed event where she partnered with Sarabjot Singh.
(With agency inputs)
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