India, Jan. 9 -- Following a week of uncertainty, Manu Bhaker has been officially included among the recipients of the esteemed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award as of January 2. This confirmation from the sports ministry came after a period of controversy during which Bhaker was not initially nominated.

The two-time bronze medallist from the Paris 2024 Olympics later acknowledged that a potential oversight on her part may have contributed to her initial exclusion.

In response to the controversy, Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), criticized the nomination process for neglecting Bhaker, alleging that it exhibited signs of 'favouritism'.

Speaking to ANI, he remarked, "The officials deliberate on who should receive the Bharat Ratna or Khel Ratna... It was evident that Manu Bhaker's name was absent despite her winning two medals, and only after public outcry was she included... Officials tend to prioritize their preferred candidates for the Khel Ratna awards."

At just 22 years of age, Bhaker has already established herself as one of the most accomplished figures in Indian shooting history. In addition to her two Olympic medals, she boasts seven medals from the Asian Games and Asian Championships, along with 21 medals from the World Championships and World Cup events. In Paris, she made history as the first Indian woman shooter to earn an Olympic medal, securing bronze in the 10m pistol event, followed by another bronze in the 10m pistol mixed team event, thus becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic Games.

Other recipients of the Khel Ratna award include D Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar. They are scheduled to receive their awards from the President of India during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, as reported.

Bhaker made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where she encountered disappointment and a controversy regarding a pistol malfunction. She secured a quota place for India at Paris 2024 by finishing fifth in the 25m pistol event at the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships. Additionally, she is a gold medallist in the women's 10m air pistol event at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics.

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