Manu Bhaker Voted Indian Sportswoman of the Year!
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Olympic Double Medalist Bhaker Named BBC Sportswoman of the Year 2024
Merely saying that the Indian Sportswomen of the Year (ISWOTY) award has altered the landscape of women’s sports in India barely captures the extent of its impact. Since the start of 2021, global revenues from women’s professional sports have surged by 300%, while participation by women athletes in the Asian games has grown by 49%. Additionally, the number of women competing in the Para Asian Games increased by 12% between 2018 and 2023.
For 2024, the BBC nominated five prominent athletes for the prestigious Sportswomen of the Year award: Vinesh Phogat, a renowned wrestler, Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of the India Women’s cricket team, Aditi Ashok, a rising star golfer, Avani Lekhara, the two-time Paralympics champion, and Manu Bhaker, who was a double medalist at the Paris Olympics last year.
The public was tasked with deciding on the winner via a voting system that closed on January 31, and the winner was announced earlier this evening in Delhi. After a process of vote counting, it was revealed that Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker had won the Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2024 award, earning recognition for her historic achievement of becoming the first-ever Indian woman to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.
The 22-year-old also made history as the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting, claiming bronze in the women’s 10m air piston event in Paris. Just 48 hours later, Bhaker secured a second bronze, this time alongside Sarabjot Singh in the mixed 10m air pistol. Previously, the Olympic shooter was honoured with the BBC's ISWOTY Emerging Athlete of the Year award. Upon receiving her award, Bhaker reflected on her journey saying:
"I have had a journey of ups and downs. I hope I can inspire women, all athletes and people with big dreams. Your journey doesn't end if you are struggling. You write your own story."
Other notable award recipients on a glamorous evening included para-archer Sheetal Devi, who won the BBC Emerging Player of the Year, former India women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj was honoured with the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, and para-shooter Avani Lekhara received the BBC Para Sportswoman of the Year accolade. Additionally, chess player Tania Sachdev was also recognised with the BBC Changemaker Award. All the award winners' achievements are not only a testament to their skill and dedication to their discipline but also a symbol of the broader societal shift toward greater recognition and support for women across all sectors.
