Who Is Manu Bhaker: India’s Star Shooter Who Made History At Paris Olympics 2024

Paris Olympics 2024: Manu Bhaker Makes History with Bronze Medal in Shooting

Introduction:

• Manu Bhaker wins bronze in 10m air pistol at Paris Olympics 2024.
• First Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.

Early Life and Sports Journey:

• Hails from Haryana, known for producing top-tier athletes.
• Initially explored various sports: tennis, skating, and boxing.
• Excelled in 'thang ta', a form of martial arts, winning national medals.
• Inspired by the 2016 Rio Olympics to try shooting at age 14.
• Quickly excelled and convinced her father to buy a sport shooting pistol.

Rise to Prominence:

• 2017: Defeated Olympian Heena Sidhu at the National Shooting Championships with a record score of 242.3 in the 10m Air Pistol.
• Won silver at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships.
• 2018: Debuted at the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, breaking the junior world record in the qualification round.
• Became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at an ISSF World Cup at age 16.
• Won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, setting a new Games record.

🇮🇳🥉 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘! Manu Bhaker wins India's first medal at #Paris2024 and what a way to do so! From heartbreak at Tokyo to winning a Bronze at Paris, Manu Bhaker's redemption story has been wonderful to witness.

🔫 A superb effort from her and here's hoping… pic.twitter.com/O7tqOuGFTa

— India at Paris 2024 Olympics (@sportwalkmedia) July 28, 2024

Challenges and Triumphs:

• Faced a pistol malfunction during the Tokyo Olympics 2021, costing her a podium finish despite leading the qualification round.
• Continued to win medals at various international events.

Historic Bronze at Paris Olympics 2024:

• Showcased exceptional skill and composure in the women's 10m air pistol final.
• Maintained a top-three position throughout the final.
• Secured the bronze medal, becoming the first Indian to win a medal at this year’s Games.
• Opened India’s medal tally at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Qualification Highlights:

• Finished third in the qualification round with a score of 580.
• Overcame challenges during the qualification rounds with resilience.

Other Indian Performances:

• Ramita Jindal also qualified for a final in the women's 10m air rifle event, finishing fifth.
• Elavenil Valarivan narrowly missed the finals, finishing 10th.
• Jindal’s performance added to India’s strong presence in shooting at the Paris Olympics.

Summary :

• Manu Bhaker’s bronze medal is a testament to her dedication and resilience.
• Her journey from exploring various sports to becoming an Olympic medalist is inspiring.
• Sets a promising tone for India’s performance at the Paris Olympics 2024, aiming to surpass the previous record of seven medals from Tokyo 2020.