Manu Bhaker, the 22-year-old shooting sensation, clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This win not only marks India’s first medal at this year’s Games but also makes Bhaker the first Indian female shooter to earn an Olympic medal.
Throughout the competition, Bhaker displayed remarkable skill and poise, consistently staying in the top three. She was in second place, leading by 0.1 points, as she entered the final shot. However, a slight slip saw her finish in third place, securing the bronze.
This bronze medal kicks off India’s medal count at the Paris Olympics, with hopes high for surpassing their previous best of seven medals from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Bhaker’s Path to the Final
Bhaker’s road to the final was highlighted by a stellar performance in the qualifications. She finished third with a score of 580, bouncing back from a tough day for Indian shooting on Saturday, July 27. Veronika Major of Hungary led the qualifications with a score of 582, while India’s Rhythm Sangwan finished 15th with a score of 573.
Starting strong, Bhaker scored 97 points in the first series, placing her fourth. She maintained her performance with another 97 in the second series, despite Sangwan dropping to 26th. Bhaker surged to second place with an impressive 98 in the third series. Despite an 8 in the fifth series, she secured her spot in the final.
Other Notable Indian Performances
In addition to Bhaker’s triumph, Ramita Jindal also made it to a final at the Paris Olympics. Jindal finished fifth in the women’s 10m air rifle qualification with a score of 631.5. Meanwhile, Elavenil Valarivan narrowly missed the final, placing 10th with a score of 630.7. Jindal, who previously won bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games, became the second Indian shooter to reach a final at these Games, following Bhaker.
