NEW DELHI: Manu Bhaker‘s title going lacking from the advice listing for the Main Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award is just not the primary occasion of its form.
Manu created historical past on the Paris Olympics earlier this yr after clinching back-to-back bronze medals within the ladies’s particular person 10m air pistol and within the blended staff occasion partnering Sarabjot Singh, cementing her place as one of many biggest Indian athletes in Olympic sports activities.
The 22-year-old from Haryana’s Jhajjar district grew to become the primary Indian to win two medals at a single Olympics since India attained independence.
However Manu’s title was omitted from the listing of athletes beneficial for the Khel Ratna because the 12-member choice committee did not take cognisance of her unimaginable achievements throughout the awards cycle interval, the place she received a number of medals at main multi-sport and worldwide occasions.
However after an enormous furore, the Sports activities Ministry is now contemplating nominating Manu’s title for the nation’s highest sporting honour by utilizing its govt powers vested within the provisions of the Nationwide Sports activities Day awards scheme.
Final yr, Mohammed Shami was nominated for the Arjuna Award solely after a particular request was made by the Indian cricket board (Board of Management for Cricket in India) to the Sports activities Ministry. The India pacer’s title initially did not characteristic within the listing of the nation’s second-highest sporting honour.
Shami was one of many architects of India’s runner-up end within the 2023 ODI World Cup at residence. Within the last, India misplaced to Australia.
Shami was the main wicket-taker within the World Cup, with 24 wickets to his title from seven outings.
After sitting out the primary 4 video games, Shami shone shiny when given the chance, claiming 24 wickets at a median of simply 5.26.
However an exception was made for Shami to obtain the Arjuna Award in 2023. Sometimes, athletes are required to submit functions to be thought of for the award.
Nevertheless, in Shami’s case, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities (MYAS) determined to waive the applying requirement as a result of his extraordinary performances within the ODI World Cup.
Shami’s important contribution to India’s success within the World Cup was deemed ample to advantage the award with out the formal utility course of.
However when Shami did not characteristic within the listing, the BCCI needed to request the Sports activities Ministry to incorporate the pacer’s title.
This exception underscored how extraordinary achievements can result in deviations from commonplace protocols.
