Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], January 4 (HBTV): Olympic double medalist Manu Bhaker will be conferred with the prestigious Khel Ratna Award. Haryana Minister Ranbir Singh Gangwa congratulated Bhaker and other athletes for their remarkable achievements.

'This is a very proud moment for every resident of Haryana... I congratulate Manu Bhaker and other athletes... The athletes will get inspiration after receiving the award... The athletes of Haryana have always played a major role in winning medals for the country,' said Gangwa, who is the Public Health Engineering and Public Works Minister, in a statement to ANI.

Haryana has consistently contributed to India's medal tally in various sporting events.

The past year was a game-changer for shooter Manu Bhaker, who made history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by winning two medals in shooting events, becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to achieve this feat since Norman Pritchard in 1900.

Bhaker opened India's medal tally at the Paris Olympics by securing third place in the women's individual 10m air pistol event. This milestone made her the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal.

Following this, Bhaker, alongside Sarabjot Singh, clinched her second bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. The duo showcased exceptional consistency, defeating South Korea's Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin with a score of 16-10 in the bronze medal play-off match. Their victory marked India's first-ever shooting team medal at the Olympics.

Despite narrowly missing out on a historic treble by finishing fourth in the women's 25m pistol event, Bhaker's achievements in Paris have cemented her status as the most successful Indian woman shooter in history. Her career also includes gold medals from the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Youth Olympic Games.

This success follows the heartbreak of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where a pistol malfunction denied Bhaker a chance at a medal in the same event.

Born on February 18, 2002, in Jhajjar, Haryana, Bhaker initially explored various sports, including tennis, skating, and boxing. She also excelled in thang ta, a form of martial arts, winning medals at the national level before dedicating herself to shooting.

(ANI)