The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterway has appointed double Olympic medalist shooter Manu Bhaker as its Brand Ambassador. This was announced by the Union Minister for Port Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, at the 4th Harnessing of the Nari Shakti for the Development of the Nation event held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on 17 September 2024 to facilitate women achievers.
The 4th Harnessing of the Nari Shakti for the Development of the Nation was jointly organised by the Chennai Port Authority and the Kamarajar Port Authority at the International Cruise Terminal of the Chennai Port in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Women achievers with a background in marine or other sectors were honoured for their contribution to nation-building.
Apart from Manu Bhaker, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also felicitated First Lady Marine Engineer in the history of Indian Mercantile Marine, Sonali Banerjee; First Women Captain of the INSV Tarini, Lt Commander Vartika Joshi; 2024 Paris Paralympics Badminton silver medallist, Thulasimathi Murugesan; Paris Paralympics silver medalist in badminton Manisha Ramadass; Surveyor, 1 STS Marine Components, Indian Registrar of Shipping,
Rupali Joshi and General Manager, JM Baxi Group, Chennai Branch, Teena Joey.
Manu Bhaker is the daughter of a Marine Engineer and was born in Jhajjar, Haryana.
She is the youngest Indian shooter to win the ISSF World Cup medal.
At the 2018 ISSF World Cup, held in Guadalajara, Mexico, she won a gold medal in the 10-meter air pistol event at the age of 16.
At the 33rd Summer Olympics held in Paris, France, in 2024, she became the first Indian woman shooter to win a medal in Olympics history.
She also became the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Summer Olympics.
First, she won bronze in the 10-meter air pistol event, and then, with Sarabjot Singh, she won the bronze medal in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event.