Manu Bhaker Wins Khel Ratna: Reflects on Milestone and Prepares for Next Challenges

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Celebrated shooter Manu Bhaker, a two-time Olympic medallist, expressed her gratitude and resolve after being conferred with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. During the felicitation ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Bhaker described the recognition as a defining moment in her career.

The honour presented by President Droupadi Murmu, she said it to be a motivation to aim higher in her sporting journey. In her remarks, Bhaker shared her enthusiasm about the award's significance. "It is an honour to receive the Khel Ratna, one of the highest accolades in the country," she said.

She added, "This recognition inspires me to work even harder and bring more laurels to India." The 21-year-old athlete has been diligently preparing for her return to competitive shooting, having undergone two and a half months of rigorous training.

"I've been training consistently, and I'm ready to take on upcoming competitions scheduled for the end of this month and the next," Bhaker shared. Bhaker etched her name in Indian sports history by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal.

She earned a bronze in the women's individual 10m air pistol event and followed it up with another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh. Her performances in Paris 2024 demonstrated her resilience and growth, especially after a challenging Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Equipment malfunctions may have hampered her performance there, but she revived in 2024. Her journey from setbacks to triumphs is an inspiration. Though she narrowly missed a historic third medal in Paris by finishing fourth in the women's 25m pistol event, Bhaker's determination to succeed remains unwavering.

Other athletes also honoured with the Khel Ratna included chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, who became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at 18, hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, who led India to Olympic bronze, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar, who clinched gold in the Men's High Jump T64 event at the Paralympics.