On January 17, Manu Bhaker was conferred with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award by President Droupadi Murmu, marking a significant milestone in her career. At just 22 years old, Manu made history in the Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian to win multiple medals in a single Olympic Games since Independence. Despite a disappointing performance in the Tokyo Olympics, Manu bounced back in style in Paris, winning a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event and another bronze in the team event with Sarabjot Singh. She narrowly missed out on a third medal, finishing fourth in the 25m pistol event.
Reflecting on the importance of the Olympic medals, Manu called them the "biggest souvenir" for an athlete, emphasizing the deep emotional connection athletes have with their medals. She shared that the Olympic medal's quality should be top-notch as it holds a lifetime of memories. Her own Olympic medal, she noted, had started to lose its coating soon after receiving it, which sparked widespread concerns from athletes about the quality of the medals. She expressed support for the International Olympic Committee's decision to replace the medals, as many athletes have voiced their dissatisfaction with the current ones.
After her successful campaign in Paris, Manu decided to skip the World Cup Finals and national championships to focus on her training for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She has already begun her preparations, having trained for the past two-and-a-half months, and remains mentally prepared for the inevitable ups and downs of the journey ahead. Manu's determination to focus on her Olympic goals signals her commitment to achieving even greater success in the years to come.
