Manu Bhaker Makes History As the First Indian Woman To Win Multiple Medals at a Single Olympics.

In an exhilarating showcase of skill and precision, Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh clinched a bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the Paris Olympics 2024. Their outstanding performance on Day 4 not only secured India's second bronze medal of the Games but also earned admiration from audiences worldwide, highlighting India's rising prowess in shooting. Rising to the Challenge The competition was intense, but Bhaker and Singh demonstrated exceptional teamwork and focus throughout the match. After a strong start, they led 4-2 after the third series and extended their advantage to 8-2 by the fifth. Despite a brief resurgence from the South Korean team, which brought the score to 10-6 after the eighth series, the Indian pair maintained their composure to secure a decisive 16-8 victory. Manu Bhaker expressed her gratitude and pride following the win. "I feel really proud and a lot of gratitude... It is just blessings. Thanks for all the blessings and love. We can only control what is in our hands. I had a chat with my father regarding this and decided we keep fighting till the last shot," she shared. Her words reflected the determination and resilience that have characterized her journey. Source:Google Images Sarabjot Singh, competing in his first Olympics, was thrilled with the outcome. He noted that the game was tough but felt great about their success. A Historic Feat for India This bronze medal is particularly significant for Bhaker, who made history as the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at a single Olympic Games. She previously secured another bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event, which marked India's first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.  Bhaker's achievements place her alongside legendary Indian athletes such as Norman Pritchard (athletics), Sushil Kumar (wrestling), and PV Sindhu (badminton), who have also won multiple medals at the Summer Games. However, no Indian has accomplished this feat within a single edition of the Games until Bhaker’s outstanding performance in Paris. Meanwhile, the Turkish pair of Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec, who matched the Olympic qualification record with 582 points, advanced to compete for the gold medal against Serbia's Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec. As the Indian shooting contingent continues to make strides on the global stage, the success of Bhaker and Singh serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the nation. Their performance underscores the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and the ability to stay composed under pressure. Paris Olympics 2024, Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team, bronze medal, Indian shooters**

The Rise of a Shooting Star: Manu Bhaker Becomes India’s First Female Olympic Shooting Medalist!

In a moment that will be etched in Indian sports history, Manu Bhaker opened India's medal tally at the Paris Olympics 2024 by securing a bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event. The 22-year-old prodigy from Haryana not only lived up to her billing as one of India's biggest medal contenders but also became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. Her victory broke India's dry spell in Olympic shooting, following medal-less outings at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. A Historic Feat It took India just two days to capture their first medal at the Paris Olympics, thanks to Bhaker's remarkable performance. Competing with a score of 221.7 in the finals, Manu's journey to the podium was anything but straightforward. She finished fourth in the qualification round, narrowly making it to the finals. However, as the competition on the second day of the Olympics commenced, all eyes were on her. Despite stellar performances from PV Sindhu, Sreeja Akula, and Nikhat Zareen, it was Manu who ultimately elevated India's presence on the global stage, with the national flag soaring high in her honor. Source: Google Images Redemption and Triumph Manu's bronze medal win was a story of redemption and resilience. Three years ago, at the Tokyo Olympics, she experienced a heart-wrenching disappointment when a gun malfunction during the qualification round dashed her hopes of making it to the finals. Overcoming the emotional and psychological aftermath of that setback required immense patience and hard work. Yet, Bhaker's perseverance paid off in Paris, where she executed a near-flawless performance, narrowly missing the silver. In the final five rounds, Manu came tantalizingly close to overtaking South Korea's Kim Yegi, firing a 10.3 to momentarily take the lead. However, a 10.5 by Yegi in the last shot nudged Bhaker to third place. Another South Korean, Oh Ye Jin, took gold with an Olympic record score of 243.2. Early Years Manu Bhaker's journey from a small town in Haryana to the Olympic podium proves her extraordinary talent and determination. Haryana is known for producing boxing and wrestling champions. However, Bhaker charted a different course, trading the boxing ring for the shooting range. In her early years, Bhaker was a multi-faceted athlete, excelling in tennis, skating, and even the martial art of thang ta, where she won national accolades. However, it was the allure of the Olympics, sparked by the 2016 Rio Games, that directed her focus toward shooting. At just fourteen, she persuaded her father to buy her a pistol. That set the stage for her rapid rise in the sport. Bhaker's breakout moment came when she defeated seasoned Olympian Heena Sidhu at the national championships, a victory that sent shockwaves through the shooting community. Her talent quickly gained international recognition, with notable performances at the Asian Junior Championships and the Asian Games. But it was her gold medal at the Youth Olympics that cemented her status as a shooting prodigy. Under the mentorship of veteran marksman Jaspal Rana, Bhaker continued to dominate. Her exceptional showing at the Olympic Selection Trials secured her spot in the Indian shooting squad for Tokyo. Despite the heartbreak there, she returned stronger, culminating in her historic performance in Paris. Bhaker's achievement also marks the first time an Indian woman has qualified for the 10m air pistol final at the Olympics. Her success follows the footsteps of previous Indian shooting medalists, including Gagan Narang and Vijay Kumar, who won medals at the London 2012 Games. As she stood on the podium, the national anthem playing and the tricolor flying high, Manu Bhaker paved the way for future generations of Indian shooters to aim for the stars.