Bhaker, aged 22, made history in Paris by becoming the first Indian athlete since Independence to win two medals in a single Olympic edition. She clinched bronze in both the women's 10m air pistol event and the mixed 10m air pistol event alongside her partner, Sarabjot Singh. Despite these significant achievements, her name was conspicuously absent from the list of Khel Ratna nominees.
The selection committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubramanian, recommended Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar for the Khel Ratna. Singh led the hockey team to a bronze medal in Paris, while Kumar secured a gold medal in the T64 high jump event at the Paralympics. The exclusion of Bhaker has raised questions about the criteria and transparency of the selection process.
In response to the omission, Bhaker's father, Ramkishan, expressed profound disappointment. He questioned the necessity for his daughter to apply for the award, given her historic accomplishments. "I have been making sure that she applies for awards for the last four years, Khel Ratna and Padma Shri awards. Even this time, when she has won two Olympic medals, does she have to apply? The whole country knows what she has achieved," he stated. He further criticized the selection process, suggesting that it discourages athletes rather than motivating them.
Contrary to some reports, sources close to Bhaker revealed that she did apply for the Khel Ratna award but was not selected. This revelation has intensified scrutiny of the selection committee's decision-making process.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the governing body for shooting sports, has also come under criticism for not proactively supporting Bhaker's nomination. NRAI President Kalikesh Singh Deo stated, "The federation had no role to play in her application. The system is rightly designed to keep federations out of this process and ensure the athlete is in direct touch with the awards committee." However, following the backlash, the NRAI has written to the sports ministry, requesting them to consider Bhaker for the award.
In light of the controversy, the sports ministry has indicated that the final list of awardees has not been finalized. A ministry official stated, "This is not the final list; there is a process involved. The recommendations have to go through the sports minister before the list of awardees is finalized." There is speculation that the ministry may use its executive powers to include Bhaker in the list of awardees, citing provisions that allow the government to nominate deserving candidates.
Bhaker's coach, Jaspal Rana, noted that the shooter was disheartened by the exclusion. He emphasized the need for better communication and support mechanisms to ensure deserving athletes are recognized. "I don’t know whether she applied or not, but even if she didn’t, someone in the NRAI could’ve nudged her," he remarked.
The Khel Ratna Award, established in 1991, is the highest sporting honor in India and is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It recognizes athletes for their outstanding performances in the field of sports over a period of four years. The award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.