At a young age of 16, Manu Bhaker has already become the youngest Indian ever to win a gold medal at the shooting World Cup, the first to win gold at Commonwealth Games in her category and the first to win shooting gold at the Youth Olympic Games.
Those are some extraordinary achievements, especially winning in the Youth Olympics, something for which she was promised ₹2 Crores by Haryana sports minister Anil Vij.
But months after not receiving her cash reward, Manu took to Twitter to inquire the minister about the same.
Sir Please confirm if it is correct… Or just Jumla… @anilvijminister pic.twitter.com/AtxpLKBSYV
— Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) January 4, 2019
She also added that ‘someone in Haryana is playing with that cash prize’.
Some one in Haryana is really playing with Youth Olympic games cash prize!!!!! @narendramodi @mlkhattar @anilvijminister @Ra_THORe @AshokKhemka_IAS … Is it really for encouraging or disheartening players. which one is correct… pic.twitter.com/adIsfttId7
— Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) January 4, 2019
Bhaker had clinched gold in the 10m air pistol at the Youth Olympics.
The minister reacted to the blame put on the government and tweeted:
Manu Bhaker should have first confirmed it from the Sports Deptt. before going to public domain. It is disgusting to denounce a State Govt which is giving highest awards in the Country. Bhaker will will will get 2 crores as tweated by me and as per notification at that time.
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) January 5, 2019
While adding that she should ‘focus on her game’.
There should be some sense of decipline in players. Bhaker should feel sorry for creating this controversy. She has a long way to go. She should focus on her game only.
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) January 5, 2019
As per reports, the government had lowered the amount of cash prize to ₹1 crore for gold, later.
