Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker once again proved her composure extends far beyond the shooting range. However, while Bhaker is being lauded for her grace, the internet is venting its fury at a reporter who used a platform celebrating Olympic excellence to ask the shooter about a teenage cricket sensation.
The incident occurred during an event in New Delhi held to commemorate 75 years of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). The gathering featured the crme de la crme of India’s shooting fraternity, intended to honour the sport’s rich history, which includees Bhaker’s historic two-medal haul at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
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The atmosphere shifted when a reporter pivoted from the theme of the day to ask Bhaker for her thoughts on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old cricketer who has recently taken the IPL by storm. Sooryavanshi, who recently became the youngest player to reach 1,000 runs in T20 cricket, has been the subject of intense media scrutiny since his debut.
FOLKS, SHE IS AN OLYMPIC MEDALIST!
The question did not sit well with sports fans and social media users, who quickly took to X and Instagram to question the journalist. The primary grievance among netizens was the perceived “cricket-centric” bias of Indian media, even at an event specifically designed to honour Olympians.
“Folks, she is an Olympic medallist. To ask her what she thinks of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is unfair on her achievements and her sports. Cricket anyway is the ruling passion of the country. Your sports editors do not need another celebrity quote to spin a headline on Sooryavanshi. Optionally, the next time ask Vaibhav Sooryavanshi about Manu Bhaker and see the looks you get,” Joy Bhattacharjya, a reputed sports broadcaster, wrote on X.
“Why are people asking her about a cricketer? Her two Olympic medals are greater than entire IPL,” another user wrote.
Despite the jarring shift in topic, Bhaker handled the situation with the same “ice-in-the-veins” temperament that won her two bronze medals in Paris. Rather than dismissing the question or showing irritation, she provided a thoughtful response on the pressures of being a young prodigy.
“I would say that if the mentorship is good, the company around him is good, and the people around him are good, then age is just a number. And there is no age for talent. Great things happen at 60; they happen at six. So if the people around him mentor him well and guide him properly, then I am sure he will be the next big star,” she said.
Her response – focusing on the universal journey of an athlete rather than the specifics of cricket – has been hailed as a masterclass in media handling and professional maturity.
The controversy has reignited a long-standing debate in the Indian sporting ecosystem regarding the “shadow of cricket.” While the Indian government and private entities have significantly increased funding for Olympic sports, critics argue that the media landscape remains disproportionately focused on cricketers.
The event in New Delhi was meant to be a rare moment of exclusive celebration for shooting – a sport that has consistently brought India Olympic glory. For many, the reporter’s question served as a reminder of the uphill battle Olympic athletes face in retaining the public’s undivided attention.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
