Manu Bhaker has made history by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, giving India its first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Bhaker, a 22-year-old shooter from Jhajjar in Haryana, is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.
On July 27, Bhaker qualified for the final with a score of 580 points, finishing third out of 45 competitors. In the final, she maintained her form and won bronze with a score of 221.7.
Korea’s Kim Yeji finished second with 241.3 points, while Jin Ye Oh won gold with a Games record 243.2.
This triumph adds to India’s shooting legacy, joining former medallists Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (silver, Athens 2004), Abhinav Bindra (gold, Beijing 2008), Gagan Narang (bronze, London 2012), and Vijay Kumar (silver, London 2012).
Manu Bhaker’s victory after a difficult season, including a poor campaign in Tokyo, where her gun malfunctioned.
Reflecting on her trip, Bhaker expressed her gratitude: “After Tokyo, I was really disappointed, and it took me a long time to recover from that. I read the Bhagwat Gita and tried to do what I was supposed to do, leaving the rest to God.”
Her mental toughness, which she cultivated with the support of her coach Jaspal Rana, was vital. “India deserves more medals. The sensation is bizarre, and it requires a great deal of work. I fought with all of my might in the final shot. Maybe I can improve at the next event.”
Manu Bhaker also thanked her supporters, sponsors, and coach, appreciating their contributions to her accomplishment. “Thank you so much for staying with me. This medal is for them. “I am standing here strong because of their support,” she explained.
India last won an Olympic medal in shooting in 2012, and Bhaker’s bronze medal overcomes a 12-year drought, opening the country’s account at the Paris Games.
Source: The Economic Times
