Manu Bhaker won India’s first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. With the bronze medal, Bhaker ended India’s drought from the Shooting discipline in the previous two Olympics.
Manu Bhaker, India’s top shooter, won Bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol final, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in the 10m air pistol event at the Summer Olympics.
A resilient Bhaker ended India’s 13-year wait for an Olympic shooting medal by becoming the country’s first markswoman to finish on the podium with a bronze medal.Indian shooting went two Olympics without a medal till Manu, 22, fought hard to win bronze with a score of 221.7.Korea’s Kim Yeji finished second with a score of 241.3, while her compatriot Jin Ye Oh won gold with a Games record of 243.2.
In response to 22-year-old Manu’s accomplishment, her grandmother stated, “I bless her.” She did an excellent job. We’ll all greet her whenever she arrives. I will make a special meal for her…”
Manu Bhaker had atonement in mind from the moment she stepped foot in Paris.
She became the first Indian woman shooter in two decades to reach the Olympic final in an individual event. The last example was Suma Shirur’s performance in the 10m Air Rifle event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
She also achieved history as the first Indian woman to progress to the final round of the 10m Air Pistol event at any Olympics.
Despite a pistol malfunction during the qualifications for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics that left her in tears, she performed at the level expected of an athlete with several international medals in the qualification round.
