Manu Bhaker made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian woman to secure an Olympic shooting medal. Her achievement marks India’s fifth Olympic medal in shooting and the first medal for the country at the Paris Games. This victory is particularly significant as it follows a two-Olympic gap where India did not secure any shooting medals.
Manu Bhaker, at 22 years old, scored 221.7 in the women’s 10m air pistol final, securing third place. South Korea’s Oh Ye Jin won gold with an Olympic record score of 243.2, while Yeji Kim, also from South Korea, took silver with 241.3. Bhaker started the final strong, initially holding second place. However, a few lower scores in subsequent series caused her to slip to third. Despite her best efforts to regain the second position, she narrowly missed out on silver by just 0.1 points. Bhaker’s bronze is a significant achievement for India, considering the country’s recent shooting performance in the Olympics. After a streak of medals from Athens 2004 to London 2012, India had not won shooting medals in the subsequent two Games. Bhaker’s success is a testament to her perseverance, especially after a malfunction at Tokyo 2020 cost her a chance at the final. In addition to her individual success, Bhaker is also competing in the 10m air pistol mixed team event and the women’s 25m pistol event at Paris 2024. She is the only Indian shooter to participate in multiple individual events. Earlier in the day, fellow Indian shooters Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta qualified for the finals in the women’s 10m air rifle and men’s 10m air rifle events, respectively. Jindal, with a score of 631.5, finished fifth in qualifying, while Babuta secured seventh place with 630.1.
Manu Bhaker’s historic bronze medal at Paris 2024 is a landmark achievement for Indian shooting and a moment of pride for the country. Her performance not only highlights her exceptional skill and dedication but also revitalizes India’s presence in Olympic shooting after a period of dormancy. Bhaker’s success, along with promising performances from other Indian shooters, sets a positive tone for the remainder of the Games. As she continues to compete in additional events, her journey underscores the evolving landscape of Indian sports and the growing achievements of its athletes on the global stage.
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