In a momentous achievement for Indian sports, Manu Bhaker clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event at Paris 2024 on Sunday, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal. This victory marks India's fifth Olympic medal in shooting and its first medal in any sport at Paris 2024. Notably, India had a successful streak in shooting from Athens 2004 to London 2012 but failed to secure any medals in the subsequent two editions.
Courtesy: Olympics
At just 22 years old, Manu Bhaker scored an impressive 221.7 in the final, finishing third among eight competitors. The gold medal was claimed by Oh Ye Jin of the Republic of Korea, who set a new Olympic record with a score of 243.2. Her compatriot, Yeji Kim, secured the silver with a final score of 241.3, narrowly edging out Bhaker for a spot in the gold medal round.
Bhaker's journey in the final was a rollercoaster. She started strong, scoring 50.4 in the first series and holding second place. A couple of 9.6s in the second series saw her slip to third, but she fought back valiantly. She reclaimed second place from Yeji Kim twice, only to be narrowly edged out by 0.1 points in the final stages.
Reflecting on her performance, Bhaker said, “I just put all my effort into staying in the moment until the last second, just not giving up and keep trying harder and harder. You have to hold yourself together because that’s what all the hard work is for. Although the competition was neck-and-neck and I lost silver by .1, I’m still very grateful to win bronze for my country.”
This medal is particularly sweet for Bhaker, who narrowly missed the final at Tokyo 2020 due to a pistol malfunction. Her resilience and determination paid off in Paris, securing her place in history.
India's legacy in Olympic shooting began with Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who won silver at Athens 2004 in the men’s double trap. Abhinav Bindra made history with India’s only gold in shooting at Beijing 2008 in the men’s 10m air rifle. Gagan Narang and Vijay Kumar added to the tally with silver and bronze medals, respectively, at the London 2012 Games.
Manu Bhaker's journey to the final was equally impressive. She stormed into the final of the women’s 10m air pistol event after finishing third in the qualifying round, becoming the first Indian woman in 20 years to make an Olympic shooting final. Hungary’s Veronika Major, who topped the qualifying round, was the first to be eliminated in the final.
Looking ahead, Bhaker is set to compete in the 10m air pistol mixed team event on Monday and the women’s 25m pistol event starting Friday. Remarkably, she is the only athlete from the 21-member Indian shooting team participating in multiple individual events.
Manu Bhaker’s historic win is a testament to her skill, perseverance, and dedication, inspiring a new generation of Indian shooters and making her country proud on the world stage.
All of India is proud of you, Manu Bhaker!
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