After widespread criticism over excluding double Olympic medal-winning shooter Manu Bhaker from the list of nominees for the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the country's highest sporting honour, the Sports Ministry is reportedly on a last-minute bid to include her name in the nomination list, which will be ready soon.
The list of nominees will reach Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday and the ministry could invoke Articles 5.1 and 5.2 of the 'Scheme for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award' to include her in the list, according to The Times of India.
Bhaker first won the bronze in the 10 m air pistol and then combined with fellow shooter Sarabjot Singh to clinch a second bronze in the 10m mixed team event.
The Articles stipulate that sportspersons eligible as per the award guidelines will be permitted to self-apply without the recommendation of the authorities/persons. It also enables the government to nominate two people in deserving categories.
Also read: No Khel Ratna for Manu Bhaker? Olympian's father lashes out after nomination controversy
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), which should have nominated Bhakar reportedly failed to do so. After the backlash, the NRAI approached the ministry with a request to include Bhakar's name in the list. Even otherwise her name can be considered since Bhakar said she had applied on the portal for the award. The officials of the Sports Ministry earlier claimed that the shooter had not applied for the award.
Almost all Olympic medal winners have been awarded Khel Ratna, including double medal winner Neeraj Chopra. This year, the award committee included Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh who led the Indian team to its second consecutive Olympic bronze, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar, who won a gold in the men's high jump T64 class with an Asian record at the Paris Paralympics, the award.
Bhaker's father had slammed her exclusion in an interview, questioning the purpose of getting two medals in a single Olympic if one had to beg for awards. "One government official is deciding and committee members are silent, and not giving their opinion. I don't understand. Is this the way you are encouraging athletes?" Ram Kishan told reporters.
He also confirmed that they applied for the award but heard nothing from the committee. "Why are parents encouraging their kids to play? They
