This victory marks the beginning of India’s medal tally at the Paris Olympics, with the country striving to exceed its previous record of seven medals from the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Manu Bhaker, a 22-year-old shooter, claimed the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, making her the first Indian to earn a medal at this year’s games. She also became the first female Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal.
Bhaker demonstrated remarkable skill and composure throughout the competition, consistently holding a top-three position. Although she was 0.1 points ahead in second place going into the final shot, she ultimately finished in third, securing the bronze medal.
This victory marks the start of India’s medal tally at the Paris Olympics, with the nation aiming to exceed its previous record of seven medals from the Tokyo 2020 Games.
People’s wishes to her:
“Heartiest congratulations to Manu Bhaker for opening India’s medal tally with her bronze medal in the 10-metre air pistol shooting event at the Paris Olympics. She is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in a shooting competition. India is proud of Manu Bhaker. Her feat is going to inspire many sportspersons, especially women. I wish she scales greater heights of accomplishment in the future,” President Draupadi Murmu posted on social media platform X.
Home minister Amit Shah said,”Kudos to @realmanubhaker on winning the first medal in the #ParisOlympics2024, by bringing home the bronze. You have sent a wave of euphoria across the nation with your stellar performance.”
Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that he is proud to see India clinch its first medal in the Paris Olympics. “Congratulations to @realmanubhaker for the Bronze – first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal. Our daughters have given us a wonderful start. Many more to come,” Gandhi posted on X.
Congratulating Bhaker for her tremendous feat, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said India has begun its Olympics run with a well-deserved medal. “Your achievement is a testament to your exceptional skill and perseverance. We are extremely proud of you! May this momentous occasion inspire countless young athletes to strive for excellence,” Kharge posted on X.
Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini also congratulated the shooter from Chandigarh. “Today, 22-year-old Manu Bhaker has achieved something that the whole country and the state of Haryana are proud of. Every Haryanvi’s chest has swelled with pride today. Many congratulations to the strong and courageous daughter of Haryana,” Saini posted on X.
Celebrations have begun in Manu Bhaker’s home state of Haryana. Her uncle Baljeet Singh told ANI that “It is a matter of pride for the entire country that she secured the bronze medal in the Olympics. We were expecting a gold medal, but we were very happy. The entire village will welcome her. She has done a lot of hard work for this achievement.”
Qualification Highlights
A strong showing in the qualifications highlighted Bhaker’s path to the final. She secured third place with a score of 580, bouncing back from a challenging day for Indian shooting on Saturday, July 27. Hungarian shooter Veronika Major led the qualifications with a score of 582, while Rhythm Sangwan, the other Indian competitor, finished 15th with a score of 573.
Manu Bhaker began strongly, scoring 97 points in the first series, which placed her in fourth position. She maintained her performance with another 97 in the second series, even as Sangwan fell to 26th place after a poor round. Bhaker climbed to second place with an excellent 98 in the third series. Despite a notable misstep with an 8 in the fifth series, she secured her place in the final.
Other Indian Performances
In addition to Manu Bhaker success, India’s Ramita Jindal also reached a final at the Paris Olympics. Jindal secured fifth place in the women’s 10m air rifle qualification with a score of 631.5. However, Elavenil Valarivan, another Indian contender, did not advance to the final, finishing 10th with a score of 630.7. Jindal, who previously won a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, became the second Indian shooter to secure a final berth at these games, following Bhaker’s qualification.
