Manu Bhaker Makes Olympic History

  • Manu Bhaker won a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
  • This medal marks the first for India at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
  • Manu Bhaker has created history by becoming the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal.
  • She is also the first Indian female shooter to reach an Olympic final in an individual event in the past two decades.

Continuation of India's Olympic Shooting Legacy

  • This Olympic bronze medal in shooting is India’s first since the London 2012 Games.
  • Bhaker is the fifth Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal, following in the footsteps of shooting veterans such as Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (2004 Athens), Abhinav Bindra (2008 Beijing), Vijay Kumar (2012 London), Gagan Narang (2012 London).

Manu Bhaker's Noteworthy Achievements

  • Manu Bhaker, hailing from Jhajjar district in the state of Haryana, is known for her record-setting performances in various international competitions.
  • She made headlines in the National Shooting Championships 2017 when she won 9 gold medals and set a record in the 10m Air Pistol final.
  • Notably, in 2018, Bhaker shot into fame as a teenage sensation by winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and secured a gold medal in the Women's 10m Air Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  • Her victory roster includes medals at Asian Games (2022), World Championship, Baku (2023), Asian Shooting Championship, Changwon (2023), World Cup, Bhopal (2023), World Championship, Cairo (2022), and at the World University Games, Chengdu (2021) sports events.

GK Insights: Shooting in India

  • Shooting is one of the main Olympic events from which India has secured multiple medals in the past.
  • Notable Indian shooters who have won Olympic medals include Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Abhinav Bindra, Vijay Kumar, and Gagan Narang.
  • The achievements of these shooters have significantly contributed to popularise the sport in India and inspire many young aspirants like Manu Bhaker to achieve success in this field.