- By Himanshu Badola
- Sun, 28 Jul 2024 04:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Manu Bhaker wins medal at Paris Olympics 2024: India's young shooter Manu Bhaker scripted history as she became the first woman from the country to win a medal in shooting at the Olympics.
Bhaker bagged a Bronze Medal in the Women’s 10m air pistol event at the Paris Olympics 2024, ending India's 12-year wait for a medal in the sport.
She finished third with a score of 221.7. behind South Korea’s Jin Ye Oh and Yeji Kim.
She was just 0.1 behind Kim Yeji when she was eliminated in the final on Sunday. Kim eventually won a silver medal with a total of 241.3 while her Korean compatriot Oh Ye Jin claimed a gold medal with a Games record of 243.2.
“I feel great. It was a long-due medal for India. I was just a medium to win this medal,” Manu Bhaker told JioCinema.
“The entire team is working really hard and India deserves a lot more medals. I was just fighting with all the energy. I am grateful I could win bronze for India. Maybe something better next time.”
“I was just focused on doing my best. I can’t control my destiny,” Manu Bhaker says talking about the final moments in the medal competition. “In Geeta Lord Krishna told Arjuna to focus on the job, that is what was going on in my mind. Tokyo Olympics was disappointing but the past is past. This medal is for all of us. It’s teamwork always. I was medium to win this medal for India," she added.
This was only the fifth medal for India in shooting in Olympic history as she joined Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Abhinav Bindra, Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang in the elite list.
On Saturday, The 22-year-old from Jhajjar became the 1st Indian female shooter to reach an Olympic final in an individual event in the last 20 years.
She also became the first Indian woman to qualify for the 10m Air Pistol Women’s final round at any Olympics.
A pistol malfunction in the qualifications at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 had reduced Bhaker to tears but on Saturday she ended up providing a commendable moment which will inspire other athletes in the Indian contingent.
