Manu Bhaker clinches historic bronze in shooting, marking India’s first medal at the Paris Olympics
Manu Bhaker made history at the Paris Olympics by securing India’s first medal, a bronze, in the 10m air pistol event. She is the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal
Manu Bhaker showed remarkable composure to overcome the disappointment of Tokyo, earning India its first medal at the Paris Olympics with a historic bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event on Sunday. She became the first Indian woman to secure a shooting medal at the Games, ending a 12-year drought for the country in Olympic shooting. The last time India won shooting medals at the Olympics was in 2012 in London, where rapid-fire pistol shooter Vijay Kumar claimed silver and 10m air rifle shooter Gagan Narang took home bronze.
Three years can significantly impact one’s confidence. In the Tokyo Olympics of 2021, a pistol malfunction during the qualifications left Bhaker in tears. However, this time, she emerged as a completely different shooter. From considering retirement after the heartbreak in Tokyo to clinching a historic bronze in Paris, Manu Bhaker exemplifies the power of redemption in sports.
Three years can do a lot to your confidence. A pistol malfunction in the qualifications at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 had reduced Bhaker to tears but this time around, she was an entirely different shooter. From contemplating retirement after heartbreak at the Toky Games to winning a historic bronze in Paris, Manu became the latest example of redemption in sports.
“After Tokyo, I was very disappointed, and it took me a very long time to overcome that. Frankly speaking, I really can’t explain how good I am feeling today,” Bhaker said.
Manu, who became the third Indian woman to enter the final rounds of an individual shooting event at the Olympics by finishing third with 580 in the qualification rounds, shot 221.7 to finish third in the final to claim the bronze medal.
Paris Olympics Day 2 Live Updates
Manu Bhaker was vying for the silver medal with a narrow 0.1-point lead over South Korea’s Kim Yeji. However, in the final shot, Bhaker scored a 10.3 while Yeji responded with a 10.5, securing the silver medal. South Korea’s Oh Ye Jin set a new Olympic record to win the gold medal, finishing with a score of 243.2, surpassing the previous record of 240.3 held by Vitalina Batsarashkina.
The ‘story’ of Manu Bhaker’s Olympic medal
Originating from Jhajjar, Haryana—a state celebrated for its athletic achievements—Manu Bhaker exhibited a natural talent for sports from an early age. She gained national recognition in tennis, skating, boxing, and the martial art of thang ta.
A transformative moment occurred in 2016 when, inspired by the Rio Olympics, 14-year-old Manu found her passion for shooting. In just a week, she persuaded her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, to buy her a sports pistol, initiating her extraordinary journey in the sport.
Manu Bhaker’s meteoric rise began in 2017 when she surprised the nation by defeating Olympian Heena Sidhu to win the national shooting championship with a record-breaking score of 242.3 in the 10m Air Pistol final.
Her subsequent achievements included a silver medal at the Asian Junior Championships and consistently showcasing her exceptional talent on the international stage. At the 2018 Asian Games, she set a Games Record of 593 in the qualification round of the 25m Air Pistol event but narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing in sixth place.
Manu’s star shone brightly at the 2018 Youth Olympics, where she won gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian shooter and female athlete to accomplish this feat.
Under the guidance of coach Jaspal Rana, she further solidified her dominance by securing the top spot in the Olympic Selection Trials T4 10m air pistol final, surpassing Asian Games champion Palak by a significant margin of 4.4 points.
