NewDelhi: Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic medallist and celebrated Indian shooter, has addressed the issue regarding her exclusion from the Dhyanchand Khel Ratna award nominations. She has stated that she considers the performance of the country first and awards second.
Bhaker’s declaration comes in the age of the social media rant over a supposed lack of her name on India’s sports’ highest honour list. “As an athlete, competing and performing for my country is my role. I am motivated by the awards and recognition that I receive, but they are not my endpoint,” Bhaker shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Nomination Process Under Fire
Instead, addressing the issue that arose, Bhaker expressed her chances of technical errors in her nomination. “I believe there were some issues related to the process that were there because of me, and currently, they are being resolved,” she stated, requesting people not to make any assumptions.
Social Media Explosion
The whole matter has become an issue of great discussion on social media, with users accusing the government of having political views on the topic. Many internet users draw a line between Bhaker’s meeting with the Gandhi family and the nomination of her as the awardee, which therefore sends sports and politics to a more significant debate issue.
One user, Ankit Singh, stated, “Is the Modi government rejecting Manu Bhaker to give Khel Ratna due to someone she met, the Gandhi family, after she bagged two Olympic medals?” Several other similar voices were heard across the web, where people vented their anger regarding the unclear selection standards and procedure.
Ministry Stand
While the first reports indicated that Bhaker’s proposal was lacking, later sources reported that the Dhyanchad Khel Ratna proposal could still include her name. This development occurred after the sports ministry was heavily criticised for its decision-making process.
Sports Legend
Bhaker is a popular figure in the sports arena, especially after she recently did well at the Olympics and brought two medals to the country with a magnificent performance. Following these achievements, she is now regarded as one of the most talented young sportspeople in India and serves as an inspiration for those wishing to take up the sport of shooting.
Staying the Course
Even in the wake of the dispute, Bhaker carries on with her sports career. “Despite all hurdles, I will keep on being driven to win many more medals for the country,” she is quoted as saying; this just goes to show that she has grown up and knows where her priorities lie.
The balanced reaction by the athlete has gathered attention from various angles, and numerous people have praised her for the way she is able to keep calm and have perspective amid the issue. The sports community, as the issue goes, awaits the final call for the Khel Ratna awards while Bhaker is still working hard on training and preparing for future competitions.
Matter of Expert Opinion
Sports analysts regard the fact that the incident has brought the need for transparency in sports awards and their nominees to the front line. It has also raised a more significant debate on whether sports and politics should mix in media.
The argument keeps evolving, but the impressive approach by Bhaker has created an example of how athletes can deal with such issues in dignity and professionalism, keeping their focus on their primary aim of representation and victory for the country.