New Delhi: Star India shooter Manu Bhaker is among several athletes to get their Paris Olympics medals replaced after complaints of deterioration left the Paris 2024 Organising Committee with an egg on its face. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Monday that the Paris 2024 Organising Committee and Monnaie de Paris (the French State mint) are working closely to asses all the complaints about the medals. Monnaie de Paris was responsible for the manufacture and quality control of the medals.
Bhaker, who scripted history by winning two bronze medals, was among those Olympians who decided to get the existing medals replaced with ‘identical models.’
Bhaker confirmed the development to Sportstar: “Yes, I read about it today. If they are replacing, then yes, I would like to get mine also replaced.”
Manu clinched bronze medals in the individual and team events of the 10m air pistol in the French capital and became the first Indian post-Independence to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games.
IOC to replace defective medals
“Defective medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris and engraved identically,” the IOC announced. According to the latest information, the process to replace the medals should commence in a few weeks. It is being learnt that the most number of defective medals are bronze.
Swapnil Kusale, who claimed a bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions, is yet to decide on whether to get the medal replaced.
The French mint produced as many as 5,084 medals for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The medals were designed by luxury jewellery and watchmakers Chaumet.
Concerns related to the quality of the medals were raised even before the Games had ended last summer. American skateboarder Nyjah Huston was the first athlete to raise the issue by posting a video showing deteriorated bronze medal.
Manu Bhaker, who scripted history by winning two bronze medals in Paris Games, was among those Olympians who decided to get the existing medals replaced with ‘identical models.’ Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
