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.

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The reigning World Champion and Paris 2024 Olympics silver medalist is one of 23 athletes whose competition artefacts were recently added to the World Athletics Heritage Collection. “Keeping our Olympic collection up to date, we are proud today to be announcing donations from a trio of Paris 2024 medallists: Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Thea LaFond, and Neeraj Chopra,” said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, as quoted by Olympics.com.

Other Paris 2024 medallists who contributed to the unique collection include Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who donated her singlet, name bib, and shorts. Mahuchikh made history by breaking the world high jump record at the Paris Diamond League before claiming Olympic gold this year.

Dominica’s first Olympic medalist, Thea LaFond, also gifted the crop top she wore during her victorious triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In total, 32 artefacts from 23 athletes representing 12 countries were added to the World Athletics Heritage Collection this week.

Neeraj Chopra has redefined the landscape of athletics in India and globally. He made history at the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in javelin throw. He followed up with a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a throw of 89.45 meters. Chopra narrowly missed defending his title after his arch-rival, Arshad Nadeem, produced an Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters.

Recently, Neeraj announced the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career, partnering with javelin legend Jan Zelezny, who joined as his new coach. Zelezny, a three-time Olympic and World Champion and the current world record holder, has long been an idol for Chopra.

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