New Delhi: With the Paris Olympics medals losing their shine after just a few months of being awarded, medal-winning shooter Manu Bhaker has said that there is no bigger souvenir than an Olympic medal and the quality of it should be top-class. Bhaker was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award on Friday for bagging two medals at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The shiny top layer of the two bronze medals bagged by Bhaker in the women’s 10m air pistol and 10m mixed team with Sarabjot Singh, peeled off exposing the core. Bhaker, along with some other athletes around the world highlighted the issue, demanding a replacement. After the 22-year-old ace shooter received the Khel Ratna award, she confirmed that the top layer of both her medals had peeled off.
Bhaker glad to receive prestigious Khel Ratna
Manu Bhaker’s father had raised a question on her daughter not being nominated for the prestigious award earlier as some delay took place in her nomination. The ace shooter had confirmed that she was late in filing her nomination papers but on Friday after being awarded the prestigious medal, she felt overwhelmed.
Bhaker said that it is a matter of great privilege to receive such a big honour and it motivates her to perform even better in the future. The ace Indian shooter would be targeting the numerous World Cups this year and the World Championships and Asian Games in 2026. Further adding, she said the Khel Ratna would definitely motivate her to change the colour of her medal in Los Angeles Olympics.
Meanwhile, the IOC had earlier in the week said that damaged medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris (the French state mint) and engraved in an identical way to the originals, after lot of recipients were vocal about the quality issue.
Khel Ratna recipient Manu Bhaker has said that there is no bigger souvenir than an Olympic medal and the quality of it should be top-class. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
