Manu Bhaker nominated for ISSF Athletes Committee, campaigns for better prize money and athlete welfare
Manu Bhaker has been nominated as a Pistol-category candidate to contest the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Athletes Committee elections for the 2026-2030 term, with the vote scheduled during the ISSF World Championship 300m Rifle in Cairo (October 17-19) and the ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Doha (November 3-13).
She is a 24-year-old double Olympic medallist and one of 10 candidates competing for two elected positions in the Pistol discipline. Bhaker has set out an athlete-centric platform aimed at improving competition conditions, expanding financial opportunities and strengthening welfare systems for shooters.
Her agenda addresses several stages of an athlete’s career, proposing greater stability in competition rules, more commercial opportunities and enhanced mental health support. Bhaker also emphasises career security after retirement as part of the welfare measures she intends to push.
Among her specific priorities is safeguarding the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event and securing its long-term future in the Olympic programme. She has called for more stable technical rules across Olympic cycles, “allowing athletes to prepare with more consistency and confidence.”
Bhaker plans to press for improvements to the financial landscape of shooting, including better prize money at ISSF World Cups. She has proposed exploring television-friendly competition formats to attract broadcasters and sponsors and to create greater value for athletes.
Discussing her candidacy, Bhaker said: "It is an honour to be nominated for the ISSF Athletes Committee. 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 said. The ISSF Athletes Committee serves as a link between competitors and the federation, with responsibilities that include gathering athlete feedback, advising on rules and regulations, improving competition conditions, advocating athlete welfare and promoting clean sport.
The next step is the vote at the two world championships. Athletes aged 18 and above who compete at either championship will be eligible to vote, and each eligible shooter can cast up to two votes for candidates in each discipline.