Synopsis:
Manu Bhaker has scripted history at the Paris Olympics 2024, winning India’s first medal with a bronze in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol event. The 22-year-old has overcome the Tokyo Olympic setbacks to achieve this remarkable feat, ending India’s 12-year-long wait for a shooting medal at the Olympics.
India’s First Medal in Paris Olympics 2024:
In a thrilling display of pinpoint precision and determination, Manu Bhaker has secured India’s first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. The 22-year-old shooting prodigy from Haryana, India clinched a bronze in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol event, marking a historic achievement that ends a 12-year drought for Indian shooting medals. The last shooting medal for India was back in the 2012 London Olympics.
Bhaker’s triumph is especially poignant considering her previous heartbreak at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. At just 19 years old, she was a strong contender but faced an unexpected elimination in the qualification rounds after a pistol malfunction cost her a spot in the final. This incident deeply impacted her but she remained positive and channeled that disappointment into fierce determination, leading to her success in Paris.
The Final score of the three Medalists in this event:
Manu, who is currently ranked 5th in the world in 10m air pistol, missed out on the silver by a slenderest margin (by 0.1 points to be precise) and wasn’t able to feature in the final round of shooting. Here Final score was 221.7 points.
The gold medal was won by Y.J.OH of South Korea with an impressive final score of 243.2 points, while the silver medal went to her compatriot Y.J. Kim with a score of 241.2 points. Bhaker’s performance in Paris highlights her exceptional skill and resilience. Her consistent and focused shooting throughout the qualifying and final rounds showcased her dedication and training, earning her a well-deserved spot on the podium.
How social media reacted to Manu Bhaker’s bronze medal win at Paris:
Manu Bhaker’s bronze medal win at the 2024 Olympics has made the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) ablaze in India with tweets and messages pouring in to celebrate her impressive achievement.
Indian Prime Minister Shri, Narendra Modi also took to X to congratulate her on her bronze medal victory. Here’s his message for her:
A historic medal!
Well done, @realmanubhaker, for winning India’s FIRST medal at #ParisOlympics2024! Congrats on the Bronze. This success is even more special as she became the 1st woman to win a medal in shooting for India.
An incredible achievement!#Cheer4Bharat
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 28, 2024
Manu Bhaker Joins Elite Group of Indian Olympic Shooters:
Manu Bhaker joins the elite group of Indian shooters who have won an Olympic medal, including Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore, the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal (silver in trap, Athens 2004), Abhinav Bindra (gold in 10m air rifle, Beijing 2008), Gagan Narang (bronze in 10m air rifle, London 2012) and Vijay Kumar (silver in 25m rapid-fire pistol, London 2012) respectively.
Manu Bhaker’s upcoming events at the Paris Olympics 2024:
Looking ahead, Bhaker will compete in two more events in this Olympics. The next event for Bhaker is the Mixed Team 10m air pistol event, with the qualifying rounds on July 29th, 2024, and the finals on July 30th, 2024. She will be teaming up with Sarabjot Singh for this event and will look forward to sealing her spot in the top 4 during the qualifying rounds as only the top 4 teams make it to the medal round.
Her final event will be the women’s 25m pistol event with the qualifying rounds slated to happen on August 2nd and the finals on August 3rd, 2024. Both events are highly anticipated and will allow her to extend her Olympic medal tally.
To summarize:
Manu Bhaker’s historic bronze medal win not only elevates her as a leading figure in shooting sports but also brings renewed attention to the sport in India. Her achievement serves as a source of inspiration for all budding young athletes and demonstrates the power of perseverance and hard work.
Read: When and where to watch the Paris Olympics 2024
Stay tuned for more updates on the Indian Contingent and other exciting developments from the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.