Awards Are Motivational, But Not My Goal: Manu Bhaker on Khel Ratna Award Row

New Delhi: The Paris Olympics medallist and shooter Manu Bhaker has broken the silence over the controversy surrounding her alleged exclusion from the nominees for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. According to reports, she said while awards were motivational, they were not her ultimate goal.

“As an athlete, my role is to play and perform for my country,” Bhaker wrote in a social media post. She has reportedly acknowledged a possible lapse in her nomination for the Khel Ratna award but claimed that efforts are being taken up to address the issue.

Though Bhaker’s father, Ram Kishan, claimed that there was no response to her daughter’s nomination, the Sports Ministry reportedly stated that Bhaker did not apply for the award.

“Irrespective of the award, I shall remain motivated to win more medals for my country,” she said, reports claimed. She also urged people to refrain from speculations over the matter.

The 12-member National Sports Day committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubramanian, did not add Bhaker’s name to the list of nominees. Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar are among the nominees.

‘Papa, I deserve the award…’

But, Bhaker’s father has expressed his disappointment over the matter while talking to various media platforms. “What’s the point of getting two medals in a single Olympics if you have to beg for awards?” he told India Today. In an interview to NDTV, Ram Kishan claimed that his daughter told that she deserved the honour. “”Papa, I think I deserve it. The rest should be decided by the countrymen, the Sports Ministry, and the government,” Manu reportedly told Ram Kishan, claimed the NDTV report.

The list isn’t final one…

A source, as quoted by the India Today, in the Sports Ministry claimed that the list of nominees wasn’t the final one. “A final list is to be out and we are in the process to finalise it in a couple of days. It should be out. It’s a recommendation and the final list always comes out with the approval of the minister. A meeting with the sports minister is likely to be held on Wednesday with the committee,” the source said, quoted India Today.