Manu Bhaker contests ISSF Athletes Committee election for 2026–2030 term
Synopsis
Manu Bhaker is taking her Paris 2024 double-medal moment into the boardroom — she has been nominated to contest the ISSF Athletes Committee election for 2026–2030. Her platform targets stronger athlete welfare, Olympic event protection, and better commercial deals for shooters globally, with votes being cast at World Championships in Cairo and Doha.
Key Takeaways
Manu Bhaker has been nominated as a candidate in the Pistol category for the ISSF Athletes Committee election covering the 2026–2030 term.
Elections will be held at two World Championships: Cairo (17–19 October) and Doha (3–13 November) .
Manu is one of 10 candidates competing for 2 elected positions in the Pistol discipline.
Her priorities include protecting the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Olympic event, improving prize money, and establishing a confidential athlete grievance mechanism.
At Paris 2024 , Manu became the first Indian in independent India's history to win two medals at a single Olympics edition.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker is set to contest elections for the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Athletes Committee for the 2026–2030 term, having been nominated as a candidate in the Pistol category. The announcement marks the latest milestone in a career that has already rewritten Indian shooting history.
When and How the Election Will Take Place
The election will be held across two ISSF World Championships: the ISSF World Championship 300m Rifle in Cairo, from 17–19 October, and the ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Doha, from 3–13 November. All athletes aged at least 18 years and actively competing at either championship will be eligible to vote. Each eligible athlete may vote for a maximum of two candidates per discipline, with six candidates contesting across the three categories in total.
Manu is one of 10 candidates vying for two elected positions in the Pistol discipline.
What Manu Bhaker Has Said
Speaking about her candidature, Manu said, 'Having competed at the highest level, I have experienced first-hand both the opportunities and challenges that come with being an international athlete. I believe that athletes should not just be participants in the sport but also active voices in shaping its future.'
She added, 'My vision is to work towards greater stability in competition rules, better financial and commercial opportunities, stronger athlete welfare systems and a more accessible platform for athletes to raise their concerns. I want to contribute towards building an environment where athletes feel heard, supported and secure, both during and beyond their sporting careers.'
Key Priorities on Her Agenda
A central plank of Manu's platform is safeguarding the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event and securing its long-term place in the Olympic programme. She also aims to push for greater stability in technical rules across Olympic cycles, arguing that frequent rule changes undermine athletes' ability to prepare with consistency.
On the commercial side, she intends to advocate for improved prize money across ISSF World Cups and push for television-friendly competition formats designed to attract broadcasters and sponsors. Expanding shooting's global reach through social media and digital platforms is also part of her agenda, as is establishing a secure, confidential grievance redressal mechanism for athletes.
Additionally, Manu has proposed stronger mental health support through sports psychology programmes and designated quiet zones at ISSF events, alongside practical financial security and career-transition pathways for athletes approaching retirement.
The Record Behind the Candidature
Manu's bid for the Athletes Committee comes off the back of a landmark performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she became the first Indian athlete in independent India's history to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympics. She claimed bronze in the Women's 10m Air Pistol event and in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event alongside Sarabjot Singh.
The ISSF Athletes Committee acts as a formal bridge between competitors and the sport's international governing body, gathering athlete feedback, advising on rules and regulations, and advocating for improved competition conditions and clean sport. If elected, Manu would bring to the role both the credibility of a world-class performer and a clearly articulated reform agenda — a combination that could meaningfully shift how shooting's global body engages with its athletes.
Point of View
But for what she is saying. Her platform — rules stability, prize money reform, grievance redressal, mental health support, and post-retirement pathways — reads less like a ceremonial nod and more like a structured reform agenda. That matters because the ISSF has historically been slow to integrate athlete voices at the governance level. The risk, as with most athlete-representative roles, is institutional capture: athletes elected to committees often find their agendas diluted by federation bureaucracy. Manu's credibility as a double Olympic medallist gives her unusual leverage, but she will need to convert that reputation into concrete rule changes, not just consultative input.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manu Bhaker contesting in the ISSF election?
Manu Bhaker has been nominated to contest elections for the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Athletes Committee for the 2026–2030 term, specifically in the Pistol category. She is one of 10 candidates competing for two elected positions in the discipline.
When and where will the ISSF Athletes Committee election take place?
The election will be held during two World Championships: the ISSF World Championship 300m Rifle in Cairo from 17–19 October, and the ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Doha from 3–13 November. All actively competing athletes aged 18 and above at either event are eligible to vote.
What are Manu Bhaker's key priorities if elected to the ISSF Athletes Committee?
Her priorities include protecting the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event in the Olympic programme, pushing for greater technical rule stability across Olympic cycles, improving prize money at ISSF World Cups, establishing a confidential grievance redressal mechanism, and providing stronger mental health support and post-retirement career pathways for athletes.
Why is Manu Bhaker's Paris 2024 achievement significant?
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Manu Bhaker became the first Indian athlete in independent India's history to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympics. She won bronze in both the Women's 10m Air Pistol and the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event alongside Sarabjot Singh.
What does the ISSF Athletes Committee do?
The ISSF Athletes Committee serves as a formal link between competing athletes and the sport's international governing body. Its responsibilities include gathering athlete feedback, advising on rules and regulations, advocating for improved competition conditions and athlete welfare, and promoting clean sport.
