Manu Bhaker on Paris Olympics

Manu Bhaker, the 22-year-old Indian shooter, had a historic showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning two bronze medals in the women's 10m air pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol events, marking her as the first Indian to achieve multiple medals in a single Olympic edition. Despite her success, Bhaker faced disappointment after finishing fourth in the women's 25m pistol final, narrowly missing out on a third medal in a tense shoot-off against Hungary's Veronika Major. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed immense gratitude to her supporters, including her family, coach Jaspal Rana, and various sports organizations, emphasizing that her achievements belong to all who believed in her. Bhaker's performance ended India's 12-year Olympic medal drought in shooting and highlighted her resilience after a disappointing outing at the Tokyo Olympics. Although her final event concluded on a bittersweet note, she remains optimistic and determined, looking forward to future competitions. "Competing for my country is a moment of immense pride and joy," she shared in her heartfelt message.