Manu Bhaker demonstrated remarkable composure to exorcise the ghosts of her Tokyo disappointment, earning Bharat its first medal at the Paris Olympics with a historic bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event.
She became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal, ending a 12-year drought for the nation. The last time India saw such glory was at the London 2012 Olympics, with Vijay Kumar’s silver in rapid-fire pistol and Gagan Narang’s bronze in 10m air rifle.
Overcoming a pistol malfunction that led to tears during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Bhaker’s journey to the Paris podium is a testament to resilience. The heartbreak in Tokyo had her contemplating retirement, but in Paris, she emerged triumphant, becoming a symbol of redemption in sports.
Reflecting on her victory, Bhaker said, “After Tokyo, I was very disappointed, and it took me a very long time to overcome that. Frankly speaking, I really can’t explain how good I am feeling today.”
Manu’s road to the final saw her finish third in the qualification rounds with a score of 580, making her the third Indian woman to reach the finals of an individual shooting event at the Olympics. In the final, she scored 221.7 to secure the bronze medal.
The competition for the silver was intense, with Bhaker holding a 0.1-point lead over South Korea’s Kim Yeji until the last shot. Bhaker’s 10.3 was just edged out by Kim’s 10.5, pushing Bhaker to third place. South Korea’s Oh Ye Jin won the gold, setting a new Olympic record with a score of 243.2, surpassing Vitalina Batsarashkina’s previous record of 240.3.
Inspiring Journey of Manu Bhaker
Originating from Jhajjar, Haryana, a State famed for its sports talent, Manu Bhaker had a natural flair for athletics from a young age. She excelled in various sports, including tennis, skating, boxing, and thang ta, earning national accolades in these disciplines.
A turning point came in 2016 when the Rio Olympics inspired 14-year-old Manu to pursue shooting. Convincing her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, to buy her a sports pistol, Manu’s journey in shooting began.
Her rise was meteoric. In 2017, she shocked the nation by defeating Olympian Heena Sidhu to win the national shooting championship with a record-breaking score of 242.3 in the 10m Air Pistol final.
Manu continued her success with a silver at the Asian Junior Championships and showcased her talent internationally. At the 2018 Asian Games, she set a Games Record of 593 in the 25m Air Pistol qualification but narrowly missed a medal, finishing sixth.
Her star continued to rise at the 2018 Youth Olympics, where she won gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian shooter and female athlete to achieve this milestone.
Under the guidance of coach Jaspal Rana, Manu further established her dominance by winning the Olympic Selection Trials T4 10m air pistol final, decisively beating Asian Games champion Palak by 4.4 points.
Manu Bhaker’s story is one of grit, perseverance, and ultimate triumph, inspiring many young athletes across the nation.
