Learn to appreciate athletes, then host Olympics; Manu should have opted for cricket, says father

New Delhi: Ram Kishan Bhaker, father of Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, has sharply criticised the exclusion of his daughter’s name from the Khel Ratna Award recommendation list, despite her historic achievements in shooting. Bhaker’s comments, which reflect his deep disappointment, have sparked a nationwide debate on the country's recognition of Olympic athletes.

Ram Kishan expressed his regret over encouraging Manu to pursue sports, particularly shooting, and hinted that had she chosen cricket instead, she would have been more readily recognised. "It is also my fault that I encouraged Manu into sports. To the entire country's parents, I would like to say don't get your kids into sports, but if you need money, then get them into cricket, and if you need power, then make them IAS/IPS or UPSC aspirants," he said.

He went on to lament the lack of recognition, stating that cricket players are showered with awards and fame, while Olympic athletes are often overlooked. "I regret bringing Manu Bhaker into the shooting field. It would have been enough to make her a cricket player. In that case, all the awards would have come her way. No one has won two medals in a single Olympics. What more does my daughter need to do for the country?" he added, highlighting Manu's remarkable achievement of winning two Olympic medals in Paris 2024.

Further expressing his disillusionment with India's approach to Olympic sports, Ram Kishan urged parents to reconsider supporting their children in Olympic disciplines. "They are talking about hosting the 2036 Olympics, but where are you going to get athletes from when you discourage them like this? As a parent, I would like to tell other parents not to get their kids into an Olympic sport. Get them educated instead, and when they become IAS/IPS officers, they will have command over lakhs of players and decide who should get the Khel Ratna."

In a separate statement, Manu Bhaker's father confirmed that his daughter had indeed applied for the Khel Ratna, along with other prestigious awards like the Padma Shri, but she had been ignored. "There is no worth in playing Olympic sports in India because despite winning two medals in an Olympics, Manu has been ignored for the Khel Ratna award. There is no point in playing and winning rewards for your country and in turn begging for recognition," he said.

Sports Ministry to Nominate Manu Bhaker for Khel Ratna Amid Growing Criticism

The controversy surrounding Manu Bhaker’s omission from the list of Khel Ratna nominees has prompted the Indian Sports Ministry to reconsider its stance. Reports suggest that the ministry is now planning to nominate the 21-year-old shooter for the prestigious award to quell the backlash.

According to sources within the ministry, the nomination could come through the executive powers of the ministry, as permitted under the National Sports Day awards scheme. "There is no final list of nominees at this point. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will decide on the recommendations in a day or two, and her name, in all likelihood, will be there in the final list," a ministry source told The Times of India.

Manu Bhaker made history in Paris 2024 as the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympic Games, securing bronze in both the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team events. Her achievements have been widely praised, but her exclusion from the Khel Ratna nomination sparked widespread outrage, particularly as her family insists that the proper application procedure was followed.

Bhaker's father has been outspoken about the lack of recognition for his daughter, claiming that despite submitting applications for several national awards in previous years, Manu's achievements were overlooked. "She had been applying for all awards, say Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan for the last 2-3 years continuously, and I have proof of that.," he said, underscoring the bureaucratic hurdles faced by Olympic athletes in India.

While the Sports Ministry maintains that Manu Bhaker did not apply for the award this year, her father insists that her extraordinary achievements merit consideration. "Even if she hasn't applied, the committee should consider her achievements," he asserted, blaming the bureaucracy for the oversight.

As the situation unfolds, the Sports Ministry is under pressure to rectify its mistake and ensure that one of India’s brightest sporting stars receives the recognition she deserves. (Agencies)