HospitalityNews Congratulates Manu Bhaker on Her Second Win with Bronze Medal in Paris 2024 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Shooting

HospitalityNews Congratulates Manu Bhaker on Her Second Win with Bronze Medal in Paris 2024 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Shooting

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 31, 2024

Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh scripted history with a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team shooting event at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Tuesday. HospitalityNews congratulates Manu Bhaker on her second win, a remarkable achievement in this Olympic edition.

This was India’s sixth Olympic medal in shooting and first-ever in a shooting team event. The result also made Manu Bhaker the first athlete of independent India to win two medals in one edition of the Olympics. On Sunday, Manu Bhaker became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.

Competing at the National Shooting Center in Chateauroux, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh defeated the Republic of Korea’s Oh Ye Jin and Wonho Lee 16-10 in the bronze medal match. Oh Ye Jin won the gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event on Sunday.

Manu Bhaker started strongly, shooting a 10.2 on her opening shot. Sarabjot Singh’s 8.6 cost India the first two points but he recovered quickly with scores of 10.5, 10.4 and 10 to help India take the next six points.

Manu Bhaker struck at least a 10 on her first seven shots. However, Oh Ye Jin kept the South Koreans in the hunt with her consistency as they recovered from an 8-2 deficit to stretch the match to 14-10.

Oh Ye Jin, the Olympic champion, struck a 9 on her final shot while her partner managed a 9.5. Manu Bhaker hit a 9.4 but a 10.2 from Sarabjot Singh confirmed the medal for India.

"It’s great. The first medal was really good and again the fight was really tough," Manu said. "It was neck to neck with each shot, like with my first bronze. But the last shot was Sarabjot’s, so big up to him."

The Indian shooters had 19 of their 26 shots hit at least a 10 while the South Koreans had 12 shots hit a minimum of 10.

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On Monday, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh finished third in the qualifying round to make the bronze medal match, behind Turkiye’s Sevval Ilayda Tarhan-Yusuf Dikec and Serbia’s Zorana Arunovic-Damir Mikec. Serbia won the gold medal with a 16-14 win over Turkiye.

The top two teams from the field of 17 qualified for the gold medal match while the third and fourth-placed teams played for bronze.

Two of India’s six Olympic medals in shooting have now come at Paris 2024. The only other time Indian shooters won two medals in shooting at a single edition of the Olympics was in London 2012. Gagan Narang (men’s 10m air rifle) and Vijay Kumar (men’s 25m rapid fire pistol) won silver and bronze, respectively.

India blanked in shooting events at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

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.

Manu Bhaker will also compete in 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.


Mercedes-Benz India Announces Key Leadership Changes Across Sales & Marketing

Mercedes-Benz India Announces Key Leadership Changes Across Sales & Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on July 15, 2026

Mercedes-Benz India has announced a series of strategic leadership changes within its Sales & Marketing function, reinforcing the company's focus on enhancing customer experiences through real-time data, artificial intelligence, and integrated retail finance solutions. The organizational changes will come into effect from September 1, 2026.

As part of the new appointments, Nandita Godbole, currently General Manager – Digital Customer Unit, has been appointed Head of Marketing, succeeding Amrit Baid. Amrit Baid will take over as General Manager – Retail Finance & Pre-Owned Cars, while Jamsheed Bhadha, currently General Manager – Product Planning & Sales Planning, will transition to a new role within Mercedes-Benz in Dubai. Sanjay Kochar, presently General Manager – TEV & BEV Sales, will succeed Bhadha as General Manager – Product Planning & Sales Planning.

Commenting on the organizational changes, Brendon Sissing, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "Our people remain the driving force behind Mercedes-Benz's customer centricity and sustained success. These organizational changes reinforce our commitment to creating exceptional customer experiences using real-time data strategies, AI deployment, and integrated business capabilities, while building future-ready leaders by offering broader cross-functional exposure to our talents."

Nandita Godbole has held several leadership positions across Marketing, Retail Sales, and the Digital Customer Unit at Mercedes-Benz India. In her new role, she will focus on leveraging artificial intelligence, real-time data, and predictive insights to create more personalized and seamless customer experiences across every stage of the ownership journey.

Amrit Baid, who has successfully led Marketing and Customer Experience initiatives, including campaigns such as Dreams Day, Wish Box, and G-Tribe, will now lead the Retail Finance & Pre-Owned Cars business. Mercedes-Benz India said the appointment aligns with its strategy of integrating retail finance more closely into the customer journey. The company's retail finance portfolio has grown to over ₹15,000 crore and currently supports more than 50 percent of the vehicles retailed through financing programmes such as Star Agility.

The leadership changes reflect Mercedes-Benz India's continued emphasis on nurturing internal talent, strengthening cross-functional leadership, and accelerating innovation-led growth while delivering a more connected and customer-centric luxury automotive experience


Fairfield by Marriott Agra Strengthens Leadership Team with Key Appointments

Fairfield by Marriott Agra Strengthens Leadership Team with Key Appointments

By Hariharan U

Published on July 15, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Agra has announced the appointment of Chef Ashwani Nigam as Executive Chef and Mr. Bipin Prajapati as Assistant Financial Controller, strengthening its leadership team with experienced professionals across culinary and financial operations.

The appointments mark another step in the hotel’s ongoing commitment towards delivering exceptional hospitality experiences, operational excellence, and continued growth.

As Executive Chef, Chef Ashwani Nigam will lead the culinary operations at Fairfield by Marriott Agra, overseeing menu development, kitchen operations, food quality standards, and innovative dining experiences. With his extensive industry expertise, he is expected to bring fresh perspectives and strengthen the hotel’s culinary offerings while maintaining Marriott’s commitment to quality and consistency.

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Mr. Bipin Prajapati joins Fairfield by Marriott Agra as Assistant Financial Controller, where he will be responsible for supporting financial operations, reporting, budgeting, and strategic financial planning. His expertise will contribute towards strengthening the hotel’s financial performance and operational efficiency.

Both appointments reflect Fairfield by Marriott Agra’s focus on building a strong leadership team that supports its vision of providing seamless guest experiences and maintaining high service standards.

With experienced professionals joining key positions, Fairfield by Marriott Agra continues to enhance its operational capabilities while creating memorable experiences for guests visiting the historic city of Agra.


Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh Appoints Ajit Singh Gandhi as General Manager

Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh Appoints Ajit Singh Gandhi as General Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 15, 2026

Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh has announced the appointment of Ajit Singh Gandhi as its General Manager, effective July 1, 2026. In his new role, he will oversee the hotel's operations, commercial strategy, colleague culture, and guest experience while driving its continued growth as a leading lifestyle destination in Chandigarh.

With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ajit brings extensive expertise in hotel operations, commercial leadership, and talent development. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions with prominent hospitality brands including The Oberoi Group, Taj Hotels, Marriott, and The Lalit, gaining experience across luxury, leisure, corporate, and MICE segments.

Before joining Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh, Ajit served as General Manager at Hyatt Centric Dehradun, where he led the hotel with a strong focus on operational excellence, colleague engagement, and guest satisfaction. His contributions have been recognised with the Iconic General Manager of the Year 2025 award by Times Hospitality Icons, along with the Top 20 General Managers – People's Choice Awards in both 2024 and 2025.

At Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh, Ajit will focus on enhancing the hotel's lifestyle positioning by delivering elevated guest experiences, introducing innovative food and beverage offerings, and strengthening the property's connection with Chandigarh's culture and social scene. He will also oversee the continued growth of the hotel's dining and nightlife venues, including KOYO KOYO, the contemporary Asian restaurant, and PVT LTD, the hotel's intimate speakeasy known for its innovative cocktails and immersive experiences.

Commenting on his appointment, Ajit Singh Gandhi said, "I am delighted to join Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh, a hotel that reflects the energy, creativity and character of the city itself. I look forward to working alongside an incredibly passionate team to build on the hotel's strong foundation, create memorable experiences for our guests, and further strengthen its position as a destination of choice for both travelers and local patrons."

Ajit's appointment marks an important step in the hotel's continued evolution as it expands its lifestyle offerings for both travellers and residents of Chandigarh. Backed by his people-first leadership approach and operational expertise, Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh aims to continue delivering fresh, memorable, and locally inspired experiences.

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