Manu Bhaker secures India’s first medal at Paris 2024 Olympics. She becomes the first Indian woman to secure a podium finish in the 10m air pistol category.
India’s star shooter Manu Bhaker has made history by winning bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking the country’s first medal in this event. Bhaker’s achievement is notable as she is the first Indian woman to secure a podium finish in the 10m air pistol category at the Summer Olympics.
Bhaker’s victory ended a 13-year drought for India in Olympic shooting medals. The last time India won an Olympic shooting medal was in 2012, when Vijay Kumar (rapid-fire pistol) and Gagan Narang (10m air rifle) both claimed bronze.
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At just 22 years old, Bhaker delivered a resilient performance, scoring 221.7 to clinch the bronze medal. Korea’s Kim Yeji took the silver with a score of 241.3, while her compatriot Jin Ye Oh won gold with a record-setting score of 243.2.
Reacting to Manu’s accomplishment, her grandmother expressed her pride, saying, “I bless her. She has done a great job. We will all welcome her once she is here. I will prepare a special food for her…”
Manu Bhaker entered the Paris Olympics with a determination for redemption, becoming the first Indian woman in two decades to reach an Olympic final in an individual shooting event. The last Indian woman to achieve this was Suma Shirur in the 10m Air Rifle at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
In addition, Bhaker became the first Indian woman to advance to the final round of the 10m Air Pistol event at any Olympic Games. Despite a pistol malfunction during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics that caused her significant distress, she showcased her elite skills in Paris, reflecting her experience and resilience.
Who is Manu Bhaker?
Born on February 18, 2002, in Jhajjar, Haryana, Manu Bhaker is a renowned Indian sport shooter. Initially dabbling in boxing, tennis, and skating, Bhaker discovered her passion for shooting and quickly rose to prominence on the global stage in 2017.
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Manu Bhaker’s Achievements
Bhaker’s major breakthrough came at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, where she won gold in the 10m Air Pistol competition, becoming the first Indian shooter to do so. She has also earned multiple medals at ISSF World Cup events, including gold in both mixed and individual categories.
At 16, Manu Bhaker secured her first significant triumph at the 2018 ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara. She continued her winning streak at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and the Asian Games in Jakarta, where she, along with Abhishek Verma, won gold in the mixed team 10m Air Pistol event.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to Indian sports, Manu Bhaker was honored with the Arjuna Award in 2020.