Khel Ratna row: Lapse on my part, says Manu

Seeking to end all "speculations" after her name was not considered for the Khel Ratna Award, Paris Olympics double medallist shooter Manu Bhaker on Tuesday admitted to a possible lapse in her application for the country's top sports award.

- Shantanu Srivastava

NEW DELHI:

Bhaker's message on X came a day after the absence of her name among those recommended for the award led to a major furore.

The sports ministry then said on Monday that Bhaker's name was not considered for the award because she had not submitted an application as per the government stipulation for the sports awards.

Bhaker, 22, became the first athlete in post-Independence India to win two medals in an Olympics after she took bronze in the 10m air pistol women's and mixed team competitions in Paris.

Bhaker's choice had seemed a formality, but only Harmanpreet Singh, skipper and drag-flicker of the India men's hockey team, and Praveen Kumar, para high jump gold medallist in Paris, have been recommended.