Manu Bhaker Honored With Khel Ratna Award

Veteran shooter Manu Bhaker was honored with the prestigious Khel Ratna award by President Draupadi Murmu on Friday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Haryana girl made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing two bronze medals in the shooting event, and becoming the first Indian to clinch two Olympic medals in the post-independence era.

Manu first hogged the headlines at the marquee event when she won the bronze medal in the 10-meter air pistol individual event, subsequently making him the first Indian woman to win a medal in this category. Therefore, she bagged another bronze in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh, which caught the whole country’s attention as no Indian ever secured two medals in a single edition of the Olympics in the post-independence era.

Manu now stands parallel to badminton star PV Sindhu, who previously won two medals in the Olympics among Indian women in 2016 and 2020 respectively.

Manu Bhaker’s contribution to Indian sports is indeed noteworthy. Being the fifth Indian to win a prestigious Olympic medal in shooting, her achievements have made a significant impact. Including Manu, only seven Indian shooters have succeeded in bagging an Olympic medal, which underscores the level of dedication and skill required to reach such heights.

The Indian government’s acknowledgment of Manu Bhaker’s remarkable journey and her achievements at the Paris Olympics with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is truly commendable. It serves as a powerful inspiration for millions of young athletes across the country to pursue a career in shooting. Her success amid fierce competition exemplifies dedication and excellence, and this honor will surely motivate aspiring shooters to follow in her footsteps.