Manu Bhaker's Historic Double Olympic Medal Triumph and Khel Ratna Honor

Olympian Manu Bhaker wins the prestigious Khel Ratna Award after a stellar performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing two bronze medals in shooting, becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal. Haryana celebrates Bhaker's achievements, reaffirming its role in India's sporting success.

Olympic double medalist Manu Bhaker is set to receive the esteemed Khel Ratna Award. Haryana's Public Health Engineering and Public Works Minister, Ranbir Singh Gangwa, expressed his pride in Bhaker's achievements, stating that this is a landmark moment for Haryana's residents and will inspire future athletes.

Haryana has consistently bolstered India's medal count across various sports disciplines. The previous year marked a transformative period for Manu Bhaker, as she made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by securing two bronze medals. She became the first Indian athlete since independence to achieve this feat, a distinction only previously held by Norman Pritchard in 1900.

Manu Bhaker began India's Olympic medal campaign in Paris by claiming third place in the women's 10m air pistol event, becoming the nation's first female shooter to win an Olympic medal. Her success continued as, alongside Sarabjot Singh, she clinched another bronze in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event, decisively beating the South Korean team with a score of 16-10. This victory marked India's inaugural team shooting medal at the Olympics.

While Bhaker narrowly missed a historic treble by finishing fourth in the 25m pistol event, her accomplishments in Paris solidify her position as the most successful Indian woman shooter ever. Her career boasts gold medals from the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Youth Olympic Games, overcoming previous adversities like the Tokyo 2020 Olympic setback due to a pistol malfunction.

Born on February 18, 2002, in Jhajjar, Haryana, Bhaker's journey in sports began with pursuing tennis, skating, and boxing. Her athletic versatility also saw her excel in 'thang ta', a martial art where she achieved national-level success before focusing on shooting.

(With inputs from agencies.)