Shooter Manu Bhaker’s two bronze medals in the Paris Olympics, ending India’s 12-year medal drought in shooting, should have piqued interest in her athletic journey. But during an interview for digital portal The New India, journalist Rohan Dua could not resist asking her “trivial and awkward” questions, attempting to link her up with fellow Olympian Neeraj Chopra. 

Dua also gave Bhaker another title of “one of the most attractive females, beautiful females in India’s history of Olympics” although “not sure” if she took it “as a compliment”.

After questions about her narrowly missing the second spot to South Korea’s Kim Ye-ji, Dua said: “Your photos went viral with that of Neeraj, I am not sure if you look at it as a compliment, but of course you are one of the most attractive females, beautiful females in India’s history of Olympics. Was there some sort of chemistry or would you like to snub it as some sort of moment that someone clicked?” 

Unsurprisingly, the interview available on YouTube was headlined: “Manu Bhaker Interview| Shares Her Love Interest, Olympics; On School Maths, Neeraj Chopra”. 

During the interview, Dua also justified his “trivial and awkward” question, saying “but since others have also asked, I may ask you this question, not that I want to demean your medal or your efforts.”

As Bhaker explained that “we just talk whenever we meet at a competition or events”, Dua persisted. 

“Nothing beyond? He was blessing your mother.” 

“So there’s no reading between the lines here?”

Dua didn’t stop. His other riveting question was whether Bhaker would choose “Emily in Paris or courting someone on top of the Eiffel Tower”.  

But this isn’t the first time a journalist has embarrassed the fraternity with mindless questions posed to Olympians. In fact, Times Now’s Navika Kumar may have been a pioneer in this trend. Read here.  

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