'I shouldn't have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country': Manu Bhaker excluded from Khel Ratna shortlist

Manu Bhaker, the 22-year-old Indian shooter who created history at the Paris Olympics by winning two bronze medals, has not been shortlisted for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. Bhaker became the first Indian athlete in the post-Independence era to win two Olympic medals in a single edition, securing bronze in both the 10m air pistol individual and mixed team events during the Paris 2024 Olympics. This achievement added to her growing list of accolades in international shooting competitions.

Bhaker's performance in Paris was part of an extraordinary run of success that has spanned multiple international events. Between the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, she has won 17 gold medals, six silver medals, and five bronze medals at various shooting events, including the ISSF World Cup, ISSF World Championships, 2023 Asian Games, and Junior World Championships. Her consistent success on the global stage has cemented her reputation as one of India's top shooters.

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award is India’s highest sporting honor, given annually to athletes who have demonstrated exceptional performances in their respective sports. The selection process for the Khel Ratna typically involves the submission of applications by athletes, followed by an evaluation by a selection committee. This year, however, Bhaker's name was missing from the list of 12 shortlisted candidates recommended by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The sports ministry has stated that Bhaker did not apply for the award. However, Bhaker’s family has refuted this claim, asserting that she followed the correct procedure to submit her application. Bhaker’s father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, confirmed that she had applied for the Khel Ratna, as she has done in previous years for other awards like the Padma Shri. Bhaker's family maintains that her exclusion is not due to a lack of application but rather a result of the selection process.

The selection of Khel Ratna nominees is carried out by a panel of selectors, who assess the achievements of athletes from various sports. The committee is headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubraman, and it includes former athletes and sports experts. Despite the omission of Bhaker's name from the preliminary list, sources within the sports ministry have indicated that the final list of nominees has not yet been finalized. It is possible that the sports minister may add additional names to the final list of recommendations.

Bhaker’s exclusion from the Khel Ratna shortlist has raised questions about the criteria used by the selection committee, especially considering her historic performance at the Paris Olympics. Critics have noted that Bhaker’s achievements in shooting, which have significantly contributed to India’s success in the sport on the international stage, appear to have been overlooked. In contrast, other athletes, such as hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar, have been included in the shortlist despite their more limited medal tally.

Despite the controversy, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has reiterated that the final list of Khel Ratna nominees is expected to be announced soon. The final decision will likely consider the public response to Bhaker’s exclusion and her continued success in international competitions. As of now, Bhaker and her family are awaiting clarification on whether she will be included in the final list of candidates for the prestigious award.

Bhaker's achievements have made her one of India’s most prominent athletes, and her contributions to the country’s success in shooting are widely acknowledged. Her consistency in major international events and her history-making performances at the Olympics have solidified her position as one of India’s leading sports figures. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna is one of the highest honors an athlete can receive in India, and Bhaker’s exclusion from the initial shortlist has sparked widespread debate about the fairness of the selection process.