HospitalityNews Congratulates Manu Bhaker for Historic Bronze at Paris 2024 Olympics

HospitalityNews Congratulates Manu Bhaker for Historic Bronze at Paris 2024 Olympics

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 30, 2024

HospitalityNews is thrilled to congratulate Manu Bhaker on her outstanding achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Manu Bhaker made history by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal.

This victory is India’s fifth Olympic medal in shooting and the first medal in any sport at Paris 2024. Manu Bhaker’s score of 221.7 in the eight-woman final secured her place on the podium. Oh Ye Jin of the Republic of Korea clinched the gold medal with a new Olympic record of 243.2, followed by her compatriot Yeji Kim, who won silver with a score of 241.3.

Manu Bhaker's performance was exceptional. She started the final strongly, scoring 50.4 in the first series and holding her position among the top competitors throughout the event. Despite a few setbacks, she demonstrated resilience and skill, ultimately securing the bronze medal.

Reflecting on her achievement, Manu Bhaker said, "I just put all my effort into staying in the moment until the last second, just not giving up and keep trying harder and harder. You have to hold yourself together, because that’s what all the hard work is for. Although the competition was neck-and-neck and I lost silver by .1, I’m still very grateful to win bronze for my country.”

In the same event at Tokyo 2020, Manu Bhaker was well on course to qualify for the final but a pistol malfunction stole her six precious minutes and she fell just two points short of making the final.

image

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won India’s first Olympic medal in shooting with a silver at Athens 2004 in the men’s double trap. Abhinav Bindra won India’s only gold medal in shooting in the men’s 10m air rifle at Beijing 2008. Gagan Narang (men’s 10m air rifle) and Vijay Kumar (men’s 25m rapid fire pistol) won silver and bronze, respectively, at the London 2012 Games.

On Saturday, Manu Bhaker stormed into the final of the women’s 10m air pistol event after finishing third in the qualifying round. She thus became the first Indian woman to make an Olympic shooting final in 20 years. Hungary’s Veronika Major, who topped the qualifying round, was the first to get eliminated in the final.

Manu Bhaker will also compete in the 10m air pistol mixed team event on Monday and the women’s 25m pistol event, scheduled to start on Friday. She is the only athlete from the 21-member Indian shooting team to participate in multiple individual events.

Earlier in the day, Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta qualified for the finals in the women’s 10m air rifle and the men's 10m air rifle events, respectively. The 20-year-old Ramita, who won bronze at the Asian Games last year, shot 631.5 to finish fifth in the qualifying round. The top eight shooters in the men’s and the women’s events qualified for the finals. South Korea’s Hyojin Ban topped the qualification round with the Games’ record of 634.5. Elavenial Valarivan, who finished 10th with a score of 630.7, started well but 103.8 in the sixth series saw her miss out on the qualification by a margin of 0.6 points.

In the men's 10m air rifle shooting event, Arjun Babuta scored 630.1 in the qualification series for seventh place. Sandeep Singh finished 12th with 629.3 points and missed out.

HospitalityNews is immensely proud of Manu Bhaker’s historic achievement and wishes her continued success in her future endeavors. Congratulations, Manu!


Saurabh Arya Appointed as Associate Vice President – Domestic MICE at FCM Meetings & Events in India

Saurabh Arya Appointed as Associate Vice President – Domestic MICE at FCM Meetings & Events in India

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 8, 2025

Saurabh Arya has been appointed as Associate Vice President – Domestic MICE at FCM Meetings & Events in India.

With more than two decades of experience in the travel and events industry, Saurabh brings a strong background in contracting, vendor management, liaising, and project execution. He began his career with MakeMyTrip and most recently served as Senior General Manager – Procurement and Execution at Thomas Cook India Ltd.

image

At FCM Meetings & Events, Saurabh will lead the domestic MICE segment, focusing on elevating event experiences and driving strategic growth across the Indian market. His appointment marks a significant step in strengthening FCM’s position in the MICE domain, combining operational excellence with innovative event delivery.

With his deep industry knowledge and leadership, FCM is set to achieve new milestones in the domestic events landscape.


India Flexes Readiness with Operation Sindoor Led by Women in Uniform and Nationwide Mock Drill

India Flexes Readiness with Operation Sindoor Led by Women in Uniform and Nationwide Mock Drill

By Nishang Narayan

Published on May 7, 2025

On May 7, 2025, India witnessed a rare alignment of strategic action and civil preparedness. As part of a national push to enhance wartime readiness, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed 244 districts to conduct a large-scale Civil Defence Mock Drill, simulating real-time emergency scenarios like air raids, blackouts, evacuations, and first-aid training. This exercise marked the first such nationwide drill since the 1971 war.

Coinciding with this drill was a decisive military action—Operation Sindoor, a meticulously planned strike by the Indian Armed Forces targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was launched in direct response to the recent brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians lost their lives.

The operation’s name, Sindoor, carried deep cultural significance. Named after the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, it was a tribute to the widows and families of those who perished in the Pahalgam attack. The symbolism wasn't just in the name—it extended to the leadership behind its announcement.

For the first time, two decorated women officers—Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army—led the press briefing from the National Media Centre, New Delhi. Their poised presence on national television not only conveyed India's military intent but also marked a historic shift in the representation of women in defence communication.

Meanwhile, the mock drill exercises included city-wide blackouts, activation of air raid sirens, school evacuations, public training at community centers, and protection simulations of critical infrastructure such as hospitals and power stations. Volunteers, students, health workers, police, and district officials coordinated the drill to identify gaps and improve emergency response mechanisms.

Government officials emphasized that the timing of the drill and the military strike was no coincidence. It was a dual-layered show of strength—one on the battlefield, the other in civil society. Together, they reflected India’s evolving national defence doctrine that blends military precision, civilian readiness, and symbolic unity.

With Wing Commander Singh and Colonel Qureshi leading from the front, India sent a powerful message—not only about its strategic capabilities, but also about the inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking spirit of the nation.

List of All 244 Locations for the Mock Drill

image

image

image

image

image


Spectrum@Metro and Fever FM Bring Cricket Fever to Life with ‘Ball Kids’ Bash

Spectrum@Metro and Fever FM Bring Cricket Fever to Life with ‘Ball Kids’ Bash

By Nishang Narayan

Published on May 7, 2025

Spectrum@Metro Mall, in a spirited collaboration with Fever FM, turned up the excitement with a two-day cricket extravaganza — Ball Kids — celebrating the boundless energy and cricket dreams of young fans.

Hosted by popular RJs Rahul Makin and Ilahi, the event featured engaging commentary, lively interactions, and nonstop fun. The box cricket format brought kids together for friendly matches filled with enthusiasm, team spirit, and plenty of memorable moments.

image

Participants vied for exciting rewards including signed bats, jerseys, and exclusive merchandise, while the mall buzzed with cheer and cricket-themed excitement.

Ajendra Singh, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Spectrum@Metro, shared,

“We were thrilled to see the incredible talent and enthusiasm of these young cricket fans. At Spectrum@Metro, we are committed to creating engaging experiences that bring families and communities together, and this event was a perfect example of that spirit.”

image

With community-focused initiatives like these, Spectrum@Metro continues to reinforce its role as not just a retail hub, but a vibrant destination for connection, celebration, and shared joy.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.