NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The sports ministry on Monday said that double Olympic medal-winning pistol shooter Manu Bhaker's name was not considered for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award because she had not applied for India's highest sporting honour, even as her family raised questions about the need for an application by the athlete in a year when her achievements were historic.
The sports ministry, however, added that the final list for the Khel Ratna has not yet been finalised, leaving the door open for Bhaker to be considered for the accolade.
A 12-member awards committee stoked controversy after its list of recommendations for India's highest sporting honour did not mention the double-medallist from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The recommendations for the Khel Ratna included Indian men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, who led the team to a bronze medal in Paris, and men's high jump gold medallist (in the T64 class) at the Paralympics Praveen Kumar.
"This is not the final list, there is a process involved," a sports ministry official told HT. "The recommendations have to go through the sports minister before the list of awardees is finalised," the official added.
People in the ministry aware of the development said the awards committee goes by the protocol of discussing those names who have applied for the National Sports Awards and Bhaker's application was not there.
This story is from the December 24, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Mumbai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 24, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Mumbai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Nature is pure magic, and I feel incomplete without my camera
Raveena Tandon's passion for photography is rooted in her love for wildlife.
Fulton focuses on World Cup qualification
Craig Fulton had a short chat with Graham Reid before taking his seat in an empty Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here to watch Delhi SG Pipers' practice in the morning.
Abhi-Ash vacation together, put divorce rumours to rest
The better part of 2024 had fans speculating over the divorce of actors Abhishek Bachchan (48) and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (51).
Haaland fires brace as Manchester City rout West Ham; Chelsea held
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City pummelled West Ham 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday while Newcastle inflicted another painful defeat on Ange Postecoglou's struggling Tottenham.
Saikia, Bhatia Set to Become BCCI Secretary and Treasurer
Devajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia filed nominations for the posts of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and treasurer respectively and are set to be elected unopposed in the Special General Meeting (SGM) to be held in Mumbai on January 12.
Pant breaks free; Bumrah injures back
Fast bowler awaits scan results and he will be key if India are to win SCG Test after southpaw's blitz puts his team 145 ahead
Shooters suffer due to faulty equipment at New Delhi range
Shooters are paying the price for faulty equipment at the Karni Singh range here, where the National Championships are being held.
Kohli exits in rage, maybe for one last time in Australia
For a while on Day 2 of the Sydney Test, it felt like the clock had stopped.
Perfect storm in Sydney raises India's hopes
Right until Rishabh Pant walked out to bat on Saturday, wickets had been the order of the day in the Sydney Test.
Not retiring, sat out of the final Test for the team, says Rohit
Was it a good decision? Was it the right decision? Who took it? Did he opt out? Was he forced out? Will he call it quits? The questions had been never-ending and with the Indian cricket team working in its regular secret service mode, there was no way to know the real answers to them. In a way, this Sydney Test has been about Rohit Sharma without him actually playing a part in it.
