When Manu Bhaker won a historic bronze for India in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the Paris Olympics 2024, it was the first time that an Indian woman shooter to win a medal at the Olympics.
The prolific 22-year-old then went one up by winning another bronze medal along with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team, to become the first Olympian since Norman Pritchard to win two medals in the same edition of the Games for India.
Manu Bhaker already held the record for being the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup. At the age of 16, she won a gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. It was indeed her maiden Commonwealth Games appearance. Bhaker, along with Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan, won the gold at the Asian Games 2022.
Tokyo letdown
At the Tokyo Olympics, Manu Bhaker suffered a heartbreak as the 19-year-old was troubled by a broken pistol. But she battled valiantly but failed to qualify for the 10m air pistol final.
She started strong and was third at the end of the first series, but a freak incident midway through the second series rendered her helpless. The metal cocking lever, which must be retracted to place a pellet in the gun prior to each shot, had broken.
Manu Bhaker was born in Goria village of Jhajjar district in Haryana. Her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, works as a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy. Until the age of 14, she excelled in other sports like Manipuri martial arts, as well as boxing, tennis and skating, winning medals at the national games in these events.
Published - July 28, 2024 05:07 pm IST
