Star Indian Pistol Shooter Manu Bhaker was named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year on Monday, after her excellent performance at the Olympic Games in Paris. Manu was one of the five nominees for the prize, in addition to golfer Aditi Ashok, Para-Shooter Avani Lekhara, India Women's Cricket Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana and wrestler Vineh Phogat-Oil recognized for their exceptional contributions to the Indian sport. The nominees were nominated by an eminent jury of sports journalists and writers.
Now in his fifth edition, the Iswoty Award celebrates remarkable performance of female athletes in India.
Manu, 22, won the prize for winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympic Games and since independence became the first Indian athlete to win several medals during a single games.
She insured bronze in the individual event of 10 m air gun and the 10m air gun mixed team event.
In 2018, Manu History wrote as the youngest Indian shooter to win a World Cup gold at just 16.
A recipient of the Arjuna Award she previously won BBC's Emerging Player of the Year Award in 2021.
Other prize winners of the night were para -bow scatters Sheetal Devi (BBC Emerging Player of the Year), former cricket captain of India Mithali Raj (BBC Lifetime Achievement Award) and Para -Schieter Avani (BBC Para Sportswan of the year).
Chess player Tania Sachdev was awarded with the BBC Changemaker Award.
Manu expressed gratitude for recognition and thought about her trip to Olympic success.
“I thank BBC for honoring me. A few years ago I won the emerging player prize and now I have the big one this year. My journey was full of ups and downs,” Manu said in her address.
“After Tokyo I struggled a lot, lost many events, but the journey did not end, it went on. You can only write your own story and I did that in Paris. Now the journey will continue, and I would like to change the color the Medal in Los Angeles (2028 Olympic Games).
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