New Delhi. Star Indian pistol shooter Manu Bhakar was voted the BBC’s best Indian woman player for her brilliant performance at the Paris Olympics. Manu was among the five people nominated for the award. Golfer Aditi Ashok, Para shooter Avni Lekhra, Indian women’s cricket team vice -captain Smriti Mandhana and wrestler Vinesh Phogat were also nominated for their extraordinary contribution. The nomination players were selected by a prestigious jury of sports journalists and writers.
This is the fifth session of this award given for remarkable achievements of women players in India. Twenty -two -year -old Manu received the award for winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. He is the first Indian player to win two medals in an Olympics since independence. He won a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol individual competition as well as 10 meter air pistol mixed team event.
Other award winners include Para Archer Sheetal Devi (BBC’s emerging player), former women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj (BBC Lifetime Achievement Award) and Para shooter Avni (BBC year’s best female para player). Chess player Tania Sachdev was awarded the BBC ‘Changemaker Award’.
Manu expressed gratitude for this honor and mentioned his journey of Olympic success. Manu said, “I thank the BBC for honoring me. A few years ago I won the prize of the emerging player of the year and now I have received a big award this year. My journey was full of ups and downs. “He said,” After Tokyo, I struggled a lot, lost many events but the journey did not end, it continued. You can only write your story yourself and I did it in Paris. Now the journey will continue and I would like to change the color of the medal in Los Angeles (2028 Olympics).