Manu Bhaker secured a bronze medal in the Women’s Air Pistol event at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Sunday, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.
Bhaker’s score of 221.7 points earned her the third place, marking India’s first medal in the ongoing Olympics. This historic win represents a remarkable comeback for the 22-year-old shooter. It was a redemption arc for Manu after her pistol malfunctioned in Tokyo Olympics.
The gold medal went to South Korea’s Ye Jin, who set a new Olympic record with 243.2 points. Her compatriot Kim Yeji claimed silver with 241.3 points.
Bhaker’s journey to the podium began with a strong performance in the qualification round on Saturday, where she finished third. This qualification marked another milestone, as Bhaker became the first Indian woman in two decades to reach an Olympic final in an individual shooting event since Suma Shirur in 2004.
On the opening day, Bhaker finished third in the qualification round of Women’s 10 Metre Air Pistol to qualify for the final at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Saturday. While Rhythm Sangwan failed to make her place in the final after finishing in 15th place.
(Inputs from ANI)