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.

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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!


Crowne Plaza Greater Noida Elevates Shawali Gupta as Marketing Manager

Crowne Plaza Greater Noida Elevates Shawali Gupta as Marketing Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on April 30, 2026

Crowne Plaza Greater Noida has announced the elevation of Shawali Gupta to the role of Marketing Manager, acknowledging her strong contributions to the hotel’s marketing and communications efforts.

Since joining the property in 2024 as Assistant Manager – Marketing & Communications, Shawali has played a key role in enhancing brand visibility and executing high-impact campaigns across digital and on-ground platforms. Over the past 1.5 years, she has led integrated marketing initiatives for the hotel’s 398 rooms and its diverse dining portfolio, including Mosaic, Spice Art, Chao Bella, BBC, and Mosaic Pastry Lounge.

In her new role, she will lead the overall marketing strategy, focusing on digital ecosystems, brand storytelling, and performance-driven campaigns. Shawali has been closely involved in managing key IHG platforms such as Boost, Merlin, Medallia, Brand Warehouse, and Concerto. Her responsibilities have also included overseeing social media strategy, influencer collaborations, PR outreach, and content development aligned with global brand standards.

With over nine years of experience across hospitality and media, Shawali brings a well-rounded perspective to her role. Before joining Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, she worked with leading media organisations such as Times Network, Network18 Media & Investments Limited, and The Times of India, where she specialised in social media strategy, content optimisation, and audience engagement.

Her hospitality experience includes working with The Oberoi Group, where she supported marketing and communications for The Oberoi Gurgaon and Trident Gurgaon, contributing to campaign planning and brand storytelling across both properties. She began her career with iDiva, part of Times Internet, building a strong foundation in digital content and audience growth.

An alumna of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication and Patna Women's College, Shawali holds a Master’s degree in Electronic Media and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication. She is known for combining creativity with analytics to deliver measurable marketing outcomes.

Commenting on her elevation, Shawali Gupta said, “It has been an exciting journey with Crowne Plaza Greater Noida. I look forward to further strengthening the brand's presence through innovative campaigns, meaningful collaborations, and impactful storytelling that resonates with our audiences.”

Her elevation reflects the hotel’s focus on nurturing internal talent and strengthening its marketing leadership as it continues to expand its presence in the competitive hospitality landscape


Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar Appoints Ranjita Das

Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar Appoints Ranjita Das

By Hariharan U

Published on April 29, 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar has appointed Ranjita Das as Assistant Manager – Learning & Development, strengthening its focus on talent development and service excellence.

With over five years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ranjita brings expertise in team development, guest engagement, operational efficiency, and training. In her new role, she will lead the hotel’s learning and development initiatives, focusing on enhancing employee capabilities, building leadership skills, and fostering a culture of continuous learning aligned with global brand standards.

Commenting on the appointment, Rahul Janve said, “We are delighted to welcome Ranjita to our leadership team. Her passion for people development and strong operational understanding makes her a valuable addition. We are confident she will play a key role in nurturing talent and elevating the associate experience.”

Prior to this, Ranjita was associated with The Leela Palace New Delhi, where she served as Assistant Restaurant Manager. She played an active role in training, onboarding, and driving operational efficiencies, while also leading initiatives such as festive gifting projects aligned with market trends.

Her earlier experience includes roles at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru and Lemon Tree Premiere Hyderabad, where she built strong capabilities in guest service, team coordination, and high-end hospitality operations.

Ranjita holds a degree in Hospitality and Hotel Management from National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology and has completed certifications in Inclusive Leadership and Unconscious Bias, reflecting her focus on progressive workplace practices.

With a people-first approach, she is set to contribute to strengthening the hotel’s service culture and overall guest experience.


JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru Appoints Ayush Saraf as Training Manager

JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru Appoints Ayush Saraf as Training Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on April 29, 2026

JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru has appointed Ayush Saraf as Training Manager, reinforcing its focus on people development and service excellence.

With over a decade of experience in hospitality learning and development, Ayush brings a structured and people-centric approach to training. His expertise lies in associate engagement, capability building, and fostering service-driven cultures, aimed at enhancing guest experiences.

Prior to this role, Ayush was associated with Coorg Marriott Resort & Spa, where he led key initiatives to strengthen service culture and team performance. His professional journey also includes stints with leading hospitality brands such as The Tamara Coorg, Woods at Sasan, and Evolve Back Resorts, contributing to learning and leadership development across teams.

Commenting on the appointment, Gaurav Sinha said, “At JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, our associates are at the heart of every guest experience. Ayush’s passion for developing people and fostering a culture of continuous learning will further strengthen our commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality.”

Sharing his perspective, Ayush Saraf added, “I am excited to be part of JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, a brand that places people and purpose at the centre of everything it does. I look forward to building meaningful learning experiences and empowering associates to deliver intuitive service that resonates with our guests.”

In his new role, Ayush will lead the hotel’s learning and development function, focusing on leadership capability, service culture, and consistent delivery of refined guest experiences.

Part of Marriott International, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru continues to position itself as a leader in luxury hospitality, combining premium infrastructure with a strong emphasis on people and service excellence.

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