Shooting for the stars: Manu Bhaker scripts history with double bronze at Paris Olympics
Shooter Manu Bhaker secured her first medal, a bronze, at the women’s 10m air pistol event on Sunday at the Paris Olympics. She won another bronze at the mixed team match with Sarabjot Singh, becoming the first Indian woman to bag two medals in a single Olympics event since independence.
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker shot her way into history on Tuesday by becoming the first Indian woman to bag two medals in a single Olympics event since independence.
Bhaker secured her first medal, a bronze, at the Paris Olympics Games 2024 in the women’s 10-metre air pistol event on Sunday. She scored 221.7 points, securing the bronze medal in the final. She won a second medal, a bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team match along with Sarabjot Singh on Tuesday.
These wins come after the heartbreak at Tokyo Olympics 2020 where she missed a medal due to a malfunctioning pistol.
Dejected and disappointed, Bhaker had even contemplated quitting the sport last year. But with the constant encouragement and support of her coach, Jaspal Rana, she overcame the disappointment and persevered, and her efforts have paid off now. Her medals in Paris also ended India’s 12-year-long wait for a medal in shooting.
“Winning this medal is a dream come true, not just for me but for everyone who has supported me. I am deeply grateful to the NRAI (National Rifle Association of India), SAI (Sports Authority of India), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Coach Jaspal Rana sir, Haryana government, and OGQ (Olympic Gold Quest). I dedicate this victory to my country for their incredible support and love,” Bhaker posted on social media platform X.
Bhaker expressed that the teachings of Lord Krishna and Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita were her source of support during the crucial moments of the competition.
“I read a lot of Gita, so what was going on in my mind is just do what you are meant to do and leave the rest to your destiny. In Gita, Krishna says to Arjun that you focus on your karma and not the outcome of your karma. That was going through my mind in the final moment. Just do your thing,” she said in an interview.
Hailing from Jhajjar, Haryana, Bhaker was inspired by Indian boxers and wrestlers who were winning medals for the country. As a child, she took an interest in various sports such as tennis, skating, boxing, and martial arts. However, at the age of 14, she fell in love with shooting and decided to give it a shot.
Since then, there has been no looking back.
The 22-year-old shooter made her international debut at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships. She then won nine gold medals at the National Shooting Championships in Kerala in 2017.
At the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup debut in Guadalajara, Mexico, she clinched a gold medal when she was just 16 years old, becoming the youngest Indian to win a gold medal in the history of the event. She went on to bag several gold medals at the ISSF Junior World Cup, both in individual and mixed team events.
Bhaker, a graduate from Delhi’s Lady Shriram College, also won the 10m air pistol gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, becoming the first Indian shooter and the first female athlete from the country to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympics.
After the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Bhaker went on to become the junior world champion in the women’s 10m air pistol category at Lima. Since then, she has regularly won medals in the junior circuit.
Bhaker is the only athlete from the 21-member Indian shooting team to participate in multiple individual events at the Paris Olympics.
Following her win in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the athlete on X.
“Our shooters continue to make us proud! Congratulations to @realmanubhaker and Sarabjot Singh for winning the Bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the #Olympics. Both of them have shown great skills and teamwork. India is incredibly delighted. For Bhaker, this is her second consecutive Olympic medal, showcasing her consistent excellence and dedication. #Cheer4Bharat,” he wrote.
The head coach of the men’s Indian cricket team Gautam Gambhir, actresses Deepika Padukone and Shilpa Shetty, and many officials, sport stars, and celebrities have also congratulated the Indian shooter, whose rise to Olympic stardom is the perfect story of hope and resilience.
For someone who wanted to leave the sport, Bhaker has indeed come a long way. The Olympic medal is the ultimate dream for most athletes, and Bhaker has two of them in her kitty. But she’s far from being done.
Ahead of the third Olympic event, where she will compete in the 25m sports pistol qualifications on Friday (August 2), Bhaker is committed to giving her best shot.
"I hope the support continues. I will definitely try my best and hope people are not disappointed or angry,” she said, as quoted by PTI.
Feature image: @realmanubhaker
Design credit: Nihar Apte
Edited by Swetha Kannan