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!


Novotel & ibis Bengaluru Outer Ring Road appoint Bhavani Mani Shankar Dutta as Director of Operations

Novotel & ibis Bengaluru Outer Ring Road appoint Bhavani Mani Shankar Dutta as Director of Operations

By Hariharan U

Published on January 5, 2026

Novotel & ibis Bengaluru Outer Ring Road have announced the appointment of Bhavani Mani Shankar Dutta as Director of Operations. A seasoned hospitality professional with close to two decades of experience, Dutta brings strong operational expertise, people-focused leadership, and a deep understanding of Accor’s brand culture.

In his new role, Dutta will oversee overall operations across both Novotel and ibis Bengaluru Outer Ring Road. His responsibilities include driving operational efficiency, enhancing guest experience, strengthening financial performance, and building high levels of team engagement. His leadership is expected to further reinforce the hotels’ positioning as preferred destinations for both business and leisure travellers in Bengaluru.

Dutta has been associated with Accor India for over 15 years and has held several key leadership roles across the group’s portfolio. Most recently, he was part of Accor’s prestigious MEA–APAC Master’s Program, a fast-track General Manager development initiative, where he gained extensive cross-functional exposure at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre.

Earlier in his career, he served as Director – Talent & Culture at leading Accor properties including Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre; Novotel & ibis Chennai OMR; Novotel & ibis Chennai SIPCOT; and Novotel & ibis Bengaluru Outer Ring Road, playing a key role in strengthening people practices and organisational culture.

Commenting on the appointment, Sandeep Johri, general manager, Novotel & ibis Bengaluru Outer Ring Road, said, “We are delighted to welcome Bhavani in his new role. His strong operational grounding, people-centric leadership style, and deep understanding of Accor’s culture make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. We are confident he will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence and elevating guest experiences across both hotels.”


Novotel Hyderabad Airport Appoints Sushil Kumar as Director of Engineering

Novotel Hyderabad Airport Appoints Sushil Kumar as Director of Engineering

By Hariharan U

Published on January 3, 2026

Novotel Hyderabad Airport has announced the appointment of Sushil Kumar as its new director of engineering. In his role, Kumar will be responsible for overall property maintenance, ensuring that the hotel’s infrastructure, utilities, and critical systems operate smoothly and efficiently at all times.

With over 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kumar brings strong technical knowledge, project management expertise, and a hands-on approach to operational excellence. He will lead the engineering team with a focus on strengthening preventive maintenance, improving safety standards, and supporting the hotel’s sustainability goals through better energy management and efficient use of resources.

His responsibilities will also include coordinating renovation and upgrade projects, ensuring statutory compliance, and maintaining a safe and well-functioning environment that enhances overall guest experience.

Kumar has previously held key engineering roles with leading hospitality brands, including Hilton and IHCL (Taj Hotels). During his career, he has successfully managed large-scale renovation programmes, major utility upgrades, and sustainability initiatives, while building expertise across HVAC and electrical systems, fire and life safety, CAPEX planning, energy management, and complex project execution.

Commenting on his appointment, Kumar said, “I am excited to join Novotel Hyderabad Airport and contribute to a property that is known for its high operational standards and commitment to guest experience. My focus will be on strengthening engineering systems, driving safety and sustainability, and supporting the hotel’s growth through efficient and future-forward infrastructure management.”

Welcoming him to the team, Sukhbir Singh, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Airport, stated, “We are pleased to have Sushil join the NHA family. He brings a depth of experience that will significantly bolster our engineering function. His proven ability to manage complex projects and build high-performing teams will be a strong asset as we continue to enhance the hotel’s infrastructure and overall operational capabilities.”


Fairfield by Marriott Andheri West Appoints Abhimanyu Singh Yadav as Engineering Manager

Fairfield by Marriott Andheri West Appoints Abhimanyu Singh Yadav as Engineering Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 3, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Andheri West has announced the appointment of Abhimanyu Singh Yadav as its Engineering Manager. In his new role, Yadav will lead the hotel’s engineering, facilities and sustainability operations, ensuring that all technical systems function seamlessly to support guest comfort and smooth hotel operations.

With over six years of experience in the hospitality industry, Yadav brings strong expertise in engineering leadership and infrastructure management. He has previously worked with reputed hotel brands including Fairmont Udaipur Palace, The Westin Goa and Della Adventure & Resorts Pvt Ltd. His professional journey reflects a solid understanding of hotel engineering systems, preventive maintenance practices and energy-efficient operations.

At Fairfield by Marriott Andheri West, Yadav will be responsible for overseeing advanced energy management, preventive maintenance programmes and the adoption of next-generation building technologies. His appointment comes at a time when reliable, intelligent and sustainable infrastructure plays a critical role in delivering consistent guest experiences and long-term operational resilience.

Commenting on the appointment, Imran Khan, Hotel Manager at Fairfield by Marriott Andheri West, highlighted the importance of strong engineering leadership in hospitality operations. “Great engineering is often invisible, until it isn’t. With Abhimanyu leading our team, we are reaffirming our commitment to ensuring our guests' comfort, safety, and seamless experience is never compromised. His focus on proactive care and sustainable innovation reflects our commitment to both our guests and our community,” he said.

With this appointment, Fairfield by Marriott Andheri West continues to strengthen its leadership team, reinforcing its commitment to operational excellence, sustainability and guest-centric hospitality.

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