Manu Bhaker wins bronze at Paris Olympics 2024, redeems Tokyo 2020 setback: Who is she?
Manu Bhaker kickstarted India’s medal tally at the 2024 Paris Olympics by securing a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event on Sunday. The 19-year-old, known as one of India’s top medal hopefuls, fulfilled expectations and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. Her victory broke India’s dry spell in Olympic shooting, as the country had not won a medal in this discipline at either the 2016 Rio Games or the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Manu Bhaker came tantalizingly close to securing a silver medal. Positioned third in the final five rounds, she momentarily overtook South Korea’s Kim Yegi by firing a 10.3, gaining a slim 0.1-point lead. However, in the final shot, Manu scored another 10.3, while Yegi shot a 10.5, pushing Manu back to third place. South Korea’s Oh Ye Jin claimed the gold with a score of 243.2, setting a new Olympic record in the process.
Who is Manu Bhaker and what is her journey?
Hailing from Haryana, a state renowned for combat sports, Manu Bhaker has emerged as a formidable force in the world of shooting. While her home state is famous for producing boxers and wrestlers, Bhaker charted her own course, trading the boxing ring for the shooting range.
Manu Bhaker’s journey didn’t start with the precision of a pistol. In her early years, she was a versatile athlete, excelling in tennis, skating, and the martial art of thang ta, where she earned national recognition. However, it was the allure of the Olympics, sparked by the 2016 Rio Games, that changed her path.
At just fourteen, Bhaker was drawn to the sport of shooting. Almost on a whim, she persuaded her father to buy her a pistol, setting the stage for her rapid ascent. Her talent quickly became evident when she achieved a stunning victory over seasoned Olympian Heena Sidhu at the national championships, making a significant impact in the shooting community.
International acclaim followed swiftly. From the silver lining of the Asian Junior Championships to the near-miss at the Asian Games, Bhaker’s journey was marked by both triumphs and heartbreaks. However, it was her golden moment at the Youth Olympics that solidified her status as a shooting prodigy. At sixteen, she became India’s first Olympic gold medalist in shooting, a feat that catapulted her to national stardom.
Guided by the seasoned marksman Jaspal Rana, Bhaker’s ascent continued. A dominant performance at the Olympic Selection Trials cemented her place in the Indian shooting squad, setting the stage for her Olympic debut in Tokyo.
