Manu Bhaker Wins Bronze at Paris Olympics, Ending India's 12-Year Shooting Medal Drought

Historic Achievement for India as Bhaker Becomes First Female Shooter to Medal in 10m Air Pistol

On Sunday, a resilient Manu Bhaker ended India's 12-year wait for an Olympic shooting medal by securing a bronze in the 10m air pistol event at the Paris Games. This remarkable achievement marks India's first medal at the Paris Olympics and the first-ever Olympic medal by an Indian woman in shooting.

The 22-year-old Bhaker delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 221.7 points and narrowly missing the silver medal by just 0.1 points. Korea's Kim Yeji won the silver with a score of 241.3, while her compatriot Jin Ye Oh claimed the gold with a Games record of 243.2.

India's last shooting medals at the Olympics were won in 2012 in London, where Vijay Kumar secured bronze in the rapid-fire pistol event and Gagan Narang clinched bronze in the 10m air rifle competition. Bhaker's bronze medal not only ends a two-cycle Olympic medal drought for Indian shooting but also adds to India's tally of five Olympic shooting medals.

A Look at India's History with Shooting Medals at the Olympics:

1. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore – Silver at 2004 Athens Olympics (Men’s Double Trap) Rathore made history by becoming the first Indian to win an individual silver medal post-independence. His achievement set the stage for future successes in Indian shooting.
   

2. Abhinav Bindra – Gold at 2008 Beijing Olympics (Men’s 10m Air Rifle) Bindra brought home India’s first-ever individual gold medal, an iconic moment in the nation's sports history, with a near-perfect shot in the final round.

3. Gagan Narang – Bronze at 2012 London Olympics (Men’s 10m Air Rifle) Narang's consistent performance secured India’s first medal at the London Games, marking a significant comeback for the shooter.

4. Vijay Kumar – Silver at 2012 London Olympics (Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol) Kumar, an army marksman, showcased exceptional skill to secure a silver medal, further establishing India's prowess in shooting.

5. Manu Bhaker – Bronze at 2024 Paris Olympics (Women’s 10m Air Pistol) Bhaker's historic win at the Paris Olympics not only opened India's medal count at the Games but also set a new benchmark for Indian women in shooting sports.
   

Manu Bhaker's journey to the finals was marked by her exceptional performance in the qualification rounds, where she achieved perfect scores. She becomes the first Indian woman shooter in 20 years to reach an Olympic final in an individual event, joining an elite group of Indian shooters who have made the nation proud on the world stage.

Reference:

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