Bhaker named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year
Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker has been named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2024 after a global public vote.The 22-year-old was recognised for her historic achievement in becoming the first Indian woman to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.Bhaker became the first Indian woman to win an OIympic medal in shooting when she won bronze in the women's 10m air pistol in Paris. Two days later she won a second bronze - alongside Sarabjot Singh in the mixed 10m air pistol. Bhaker has previously won the BBC's ISWOTY Emerging Athlete of the Year award.On accepting her latest award, Bhaker said: "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."
Her fellow shooter Avani Lekhara was presented with the BBC ISWOTY Para-sportswoman of the Year award.The 23-year-old is the first Indian woman to win three Paralympic medals, with gold in Paris following a gold and bronze at Tokyo 2020.Indian President Droupadi Murmu said: "I appreciate the entire team of the BBC for the praiseworthy initiative of organising BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year. "The extraordinary athletes who have been recognised through this initiative have not only excelled in their sports but have also inspired young women to pursue their dreams fearlessly."BBC director general Tim Davie, who hosted the awards ceremony, said: "Manu Bhaker's historic Olympic performance is a defining moment for Indian sports. Her journey from a promising young shooter to a record-breaking Olympian inspires athletes across the country and beyond."We are also honoured to celebrate Avani Lekhara as the Para-sportswoman of the Year. Her resilience and record-breaking success continue to pave the way for greater inclusion and excellence in Para-sports."The BBC's commitment to audiences in India makes our relationship here a special one, and we are proud to celebrate the achievements of India's incredible sportswomen."
Archer Sheetal Devi won the Emerging Athlete Award after becoming India's youngest Paralympic medallist.The 18-year-old added a bronze medal at the Paris Games to two golds and one silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games, and a silver at the World Para Archery Championships.Mithali Raj was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for her record 18-year captaincy of the Indian women's cricket team.Raj, 42, led the team from 2004 to 2022 and is the longest-serving captain in international cricket history.
The Collective Newsroom produced and managed the fifth edition of BBC ISWOTY.Rupa Jha, CEO of Collective Newsroom, said: "I am delighted to see the impact these awards have been bringing to Indian women in sports - amplifying their achievements, breaking barriers, and inspiring future generations. "These awards are not just about recognition but about creating a lasting impact on the sporting landscape of India and beyond."This year's theme - Champions' Champions - highlighted the unsung heroes who have supported and shaped medal-winning athletes. A special documentary featuring the guide runners of blind athletes is available on the BBC's six Indian language platforms as well on its English outlets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BBC is showing Bargain Hunt and Homes Under the Hammer repeats instead of Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter's doubles match... again
The BBC has been criticised for showing two-year-old repeats of Bargain Hunt and Homes Under the Hammer instead of Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter 's doubles match at Queen's. The British tennis pair played their quarter-final of the Queen's Club Championships earlier today, but the footage was not even available on the BBC website for the majority of the match. It comes after the corporation also failed to broadcast the British duo's opening round win against Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu on Monday. When their latest match began at noon today, BBC One had opted to show a two-year-old episodes of Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt, The Telegraph reported. Meanwhile BBC Two was showing Politics Live, providing reaction to the Government's spending review. Coverage for Raducanu and Boulkter's match eventually became available on the iPlayer deep into the second set. With just enough time for viewers to see the British pair lose in straight sets 6-2, 7-5. On Monday, the BBC had showed live coverage of British number 3 Sonay Kartal's win in the singles against Daria Kasatkina instead of the British pair's first round match. Kartal's match was also available on iPlayer with highlights of another match involving Brazilian player Beatriz Haddad Maia as she defeated Czech player Petra Kvitova. The Lawn Tennis Association, which hosts Queen's in Eastbourne, could not move the game to the main arena due to contractual obligations made with the Women's Tennis Association. The WTA mandates that four single matches are played on Centre Court each day, meaning there is no room for doubles matches to be played despite interest in the British pair. Their opening match was only featured briefly as part of the coverage on BBC Two before it returned to coverage of Kartal's match. The BBC previously told The Telegraph after the first round match: 'Our TV coverage at Queens covers one court with one feed and we were broadcasting GB's [Great Britain] Sonay Kartal's Centre Court singles match on BBC Two. 'We provided regular updates on Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter's doubles match on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website where fans can enjoy all the stories that define this historic tournament.'
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
'I was hopeful after the play-off final that Bellingham would stay'
Former Sunderland player Darren Williams has admitted he was hopeful that Jobe Bellingham would stay at the club after the play-off has joined Borussia Dortmund for an initial fee of £27m, and will be involved in the Club World Cup squad for his new to BBC Radio Newcastle, Williams said that while he wishes Bellingham all the best in Germany, it would have been good to see him play in the Premier said: "We brought him in at a low cost and two years later we're making a good amount on him - [but] I'd have love to see him play for us in the Premier League and test himself."I've got no qualms - he's been brilliant. He's achieved something with Sunderland. I was hopeful after the final that he would stay, and then the news came about interest from Germany."I wish him all the best. It's fantastic money. The club has made good money from the last four players sold."Listen to the full clip on BBC Sounds here
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC snub Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter as repeat leaves TV viewers fuming
Furious viewers have taken aim at the BBC on social media after they were unable to watch a doubles match featuring Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter at Queen's, with an old episode of Bargain Hunt airing instead. The Brits met Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe in a doubles quarter-final match at Queen's on Wednesday, just two days after frustrated viewers made their feelings clear at the fact that their opening triumph over Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu was not available to watch. Despite that backlash, their latest match also failed to make the airwaves with BBC One showing a two-year-old episode of Homes Under The Hammer, which was followed by a repeat of Bargain Hunt. Coverage of the match was available on the Tennis Channel, albeit without commentary, but was not present on BBC iPlayer until the latter stages of the second set. Raducanu and Boulter were beaten in straight sets by their opponents, who triumphed 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the semi-finals of the women's doubles. Questions had already been raised over the coverage of Queen's on the BBC; the corporation broadcast British No.3 Sonay Kartal's victory in the singles against Daria Kasatkina on Monday instead of Raducanu and Boulter's ventures in the doubles. The Lawn Tennis Association could not move the British duo's match on Wednesday to the main court due to contractual obligations with the Women's Tennis Association, which requires four singles matches to be shown on Centre Court for international broadcast rights reasons. That meant there was no scope for a doubles match to be moved across, despite the sizeable interest. Both Raducanu and Boulter are still alive in the singles competition with the former set to face Rebecca Sramkova in a last 16 clash on Thursday. Boulter will play the fifth seed, Diana Shnaider, for a place in the quarter-finals. Raducanu will surpass Boulter and reclaim the British No.1 spot if she equals the 28-year-old's performance at the competition. Boulter has been British No.1 for two years after Raducanu slipped down the rankings. Queen's is hosting a women's tournament for the first time in over half a century this week as the likes of Raducanu and Boulter gear up for Wimbledon, which gets underway next month.
