Manu Bhaker has made history as India’s first medalist at the Paris Olympics 2024, winning a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event.
The 22-year-old shooter from Jhajjar, Haryana, scored 221.7 points in the final to secure third place, becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final in an individual shooting event.
Early Life and Background of Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker was born on February 18, 2002, in Jhajjar, Haryana. She initially experimented with various sports like boxing, tennis, and skating before finding her passion in shooting.
Bhaker’s remarkable journey began in 2017 when she gained international recognition and made a sensational debut at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, where she won gold, becoming the first Indian shooter to achieve this feat.
Manu Bhaker Career Achievements
Bhaker’s impressive record includes multiple gold medals at the ISSF World Cup and significant victories at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
In 2018, at the age of 16, she won gold in the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, her first major triumph. Later that year, she secured gold in the mixed team event at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and the Asian Games in Jakarta.
Despite experiencing a pistol malfunction during the qualifications at the Tokyo Olympics, Bhaker showcased her resilience by qualifying for the final at Paris 2024 with a score of 580 in the qualification rounds, becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final in an individual event.
In the process, she also became the first Indian woman to advance to the final round of the 10m Air Pistol event at any Olympic Games.
Importance of the Bronze Medal at the Olympics
Bhaker’s bronze medal not only marks a significant milestone for her but also ends a 13-year drought for India in Olympic shooting events, the last medal being won in 2012 by Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang.
Manu Bhaker’s bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes in India, particularly in the shooting sports, which have seen a resurgence in interest and support following her success.
