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Last Updated:April 28, 2026, 08:36 IST
Manu Bhaker calmly praises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi amid NRAI event, but social media slams media for asking a double Olympic medallist about cricket instead of her own sport.
Bhaker was asked about Vaibhav, at the 75th anniversary of the NRAI, of all places (AFP)
What was put forth as a ‘harmless’ question to Manu Bhaker ignited quite the rage online — and for fair reason.
Bhaker, the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal and the first Indian shooter to win multiple Olympic medals, was present at the National Rifle Association of India’s (NRAI) 75th anniversary celebrations.
And when interviewed on the sidelines, the ace shooter — who won two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics — was asked a question about… Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, of all things.
The humble shooter, unfazed as ever, calmly spoke about the importance of mentorship and how that would dictate the 15-year-old RR batter’s rise to prominence in years to come.
“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," Bhaker told reporters at an event on Monday.
Netizens Enraged Over Incident
Netizens and sports fans online, though, were offended and reacted with fury.
Many questioned the need for someone to ask Bhaker about the young batter, criticising the lack of respect being shown to a bastion of a sport like herself.
And in all fairness, it all led to allegations of favouritism for cricket in India, highlighting how other sports still continue to be treated as second-rate in this country.
Why is she being asked about Vaibhav & Cricket? Our media in every segment is utter waste. She is our ace shooter and these morons went to ask questions related to Cricjet as if we don’t discuss cricket enough. We won’t excel in any other sport compared to cricket.— Arnab Biswas (@ArnabBi95927148) April 27, 2026
Braindead media questioning an Olympic medalist about a 15 year old from another sport. Atleast pretend you’re vaguely interested in her/her sport if you’re going to use her for clicks instead of shoehorning cricket into every single conversation— PK (@wazza_pk) April 27, 2026
Media is asking opinion to olympic medalist about a cricketer but never ask to any cricketer about other sport person— Imme (@B_mohn_) April 27, 2026
I deeply wish cricket to die in India because that’s when other sports will gain respect and popularity.P:S: I myself is a fan of cricket but can’t see other sports dying because of it.— Unknown (@SamikDasgupta4) April 27, 2026
India and its obsession with cricket is just absurd.She herself is brilliant talent ask her what tournament she is upto.She being a brilliant talent herself since childhood.Two Olympic medals with almost army level trained shooters,there she won medals.— romit (@romit8) April 27, 2026
Next time please ask vaibhav what he thinks about many bhaker’s stellar achievements.— sudeep desai (@sudeepdesai2) April 27, 2026
There’s no denying the glimpses of greatness that Sooryavanshi has shown so far in his young career.
But to walk up to an Olympian, especially one who rewrote the history books herself, and to disregard her — when present at the 75th anniversary celebrations of the NRAI, of all occasions — in such a manner is asinine, to say the least.
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First Published:
April 28, 2026, 08:36 IST
News sports other-sports Netizens Enraged After Manu Bhaker Gets Asked About Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | HERE'S WHY
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