Manu Bhaker Overcomes Tokyo Heartbreak to Make History with Double Bronze at Paris 2024 Olympics
New Delhi, December 31: The year 2024 has proven to be a turning point for Indian shooter Manu Bhaker, who achieved an extraordinary milestone at the Paris Olympics, securing two medals in shooting events. In doing so, she became the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to achieve this remarkable feat since Norman Pritchard in 1900.
Bhaker kicked off India’s medal tally in Paris by clinching third place in the women’s individual 10m air pistol event. This historic bronze not only marked her as the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal but also added another impressive chapter to her already accomplished career.
She wasn’t done there. Bhaker, in partnership with fellow shooter Sarabjot Singh, bagged her second bronze in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event. The pair showcased exceptional skill and consistency, defeating South Korea’s Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the thrilling bronze medal play-off. Their victory marked India’s first-ever shooting team medal at the Olympics.
Despite missing out on a potential historic treble by finishing just outside the medal zone in fourth place in the women’s 25m pistol event, Bhaker’s dual bronze success in Paris solidified her position as India’s most successful female shooter of all time. Her medal collection already includes golds from the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Youth Olympic Games.
This success is particularly poignant for Bhaker, given her previous heartbreak at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where a malfunctioning pistol denied her a shot at an Olympic medal in the same event. Her remarkable resilience and unwavering determination have now propelled her to the pinnacle of shooting sports in India.
Born on February 18, 2002, in Jhajjar, Haryana, Bhaker began her sporting journey by exploring a variety of disciplines, including tennis, skating, and boxing. She also earned accolades in ‘thang ta’, a form of martial arts, before fully dedicating herself to shooting, where she has since become a global sensation.
India’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a testament to the country’s growing sporting prowess. In addition to Bhaker’s achievements, India earned a total of six medals, including one silver and five bronze. Swapnil Kusale contributed a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, while the Indian men’s hockey team won a historic back-to-back bronze for the first time in 52 years, defeating Spain 2-1.
In track and field, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra narrowly missed defending his Tokyo gold, but he secured a silver with a throw of 89.45m. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat made an impactful debut, clinching a bronze with a 13-5 victory over Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz.
India’s performance in Paris highlights the country’s rising strength across a broad spectrum of sports, paving the way for even more success in the years to come.
