The year 2024 has been a remarkable one for Indian sports, with athletes like Manu Bhaker making history. At the Paris Olympics, Bhaker secured two bronze medals, marking a massive achievement for Indian shooting. First, she claimed bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event, becoming the first female shooter from India to win an Olympic medal. She then added another bronze in the mixed 10m air pistol team event alongside Sarabjot Singh, making her the first Indian to win two medals at a single Olympics since independence.

However, in a surprising twist, Bhaker's name is missing from the list of nominees for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award this year. According to reports, officials from the Sports Ministry stated that Bhaker did not apply for the award. However, sources close to her family insist that Bhaker had indeed submitted her application for the honor.

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The Khel Ratna Award is India's highest sporting accolade, and its absence from Bhaker’s list of nominations has raised questions. Despite a challenging setback at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where a pistol malfunction prevented her from winning a medal, Bhaker made a stunning comeback in Paris. Her resilience and success in shooting have earned her numerous accolades, including gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2022 Asian Games.

Other notable nominees for the Khel Ratna include Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the men’s hockey team, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar, who won a gold medal in the Paris Paralympics. The absence of Bhaker’s name from the list has sparked debate, with many hoping that the selection committee takes her achievements into consideration.