Manu Bhaker’s Historic Bronze Medal at Paris Olympics 2024

Manu Bhaker won a bronze medal for India in the women’s 10m air pistol shooting event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone as Bhaker becomes the first Indian woman to win a shooting medal at the Olympic Games.

Ending the Medal Drought

Bhaker’s bronze medal ends India’s 12-year wait for an Olympic medal in shooting. The last time India celebrated success in this discipline was at the London Olympics 2012, where:

• Vijay Kumar clinched a silver medal in rapid-fire pistol
• Gagan Narang secured a bronze in 10m air rifle

From Heartbreak to Triumph: Manu’s Redemption Story

Tokyo 2020: A Setback

Three years ago, at the Tokyo Olympics 2021, Bhaker faced a devastating setback when a pistol malfunction during the qualifications left her in tears and shattered her Olympic dreams.

Paris 2024: Rising from the Ashes

Fast forward to Paris, and we witnessed a transformed Manu Bhaker. Her journey from contemplating retirement after the Tokyo heartbreak to claiming a historic bronze in Paris exemplifies the spirit of resilience and redemption in sports.

The Road to Bronze: Manu’s Performance in Paris

Qualification Round

Bhaker showcased her prowess early on, finishing third in the qualification rounds with a score of 580. This performance made her the third Indian woman to enter the final rounds of an individual shooting event at the Olympics.

The Final Showdown

In a nail-biting final, Manu displayed nerves of steel, shooting a total of 221.7 to secure the bronze medal. The competition for silver was intense, with Bhaker holding a slim 0.1-point lead over South Korea’s Kim Yeji before the last shot. However, Kim’s 10.5 in the final shot edged out Bhaker’s 10.3, relegating the Indian to bronze.

Podium Finish

1. Gold: Oh Ye Jin (South Korea) – 243.2 points (New Olympic Record)
2. Silver: Kim Yeji (South Korea)
3. Bronze: Manu Bhaker (India) – 221.7 points

Manu Bhaker: A Journey of Determination

Early Years and Versatility

• Birthplace: Jhajjar, Haryana
• Early sports: Tennis, skating, boxing, thang ta (martial art)
• National recognition: Achieved in multiple disciplines

The Turning Point: 2016

Inspired by the Rio Olympics, 14-year-old Manu discovered her passion for shooting. Within a week, she convinced her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, to purchase a sports pistol, marking the beginning of her shooting career.

Rapid Rise to Stardom

1. 2017: Won the national shooting championship, defeating Olympian Heena Sidhu
2. Asian Junior Championships: Secured a silver medal
3. 2018 Asian Games: Set a Games Record of 593 in the 25m Air Pistol qualification

Youth Olympics Glory

At the 2018 Youth Olympics, Manu clinched gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian shooter and female athlete to achieve this feat.

Olympic Selection and Coaching

Under the guidance of coach Jaspal Rana, Bhaker continued to excel:

• Topped the Olympic Selection Trials T4 10m air pistol final
• Outperformed Asian Games champion Palak by 4.4 points