Manu Bhaker’s back-to-back achievements have created history that will be remembered for years to come. Two days ago, she opened the medal tally by bringing home a bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol women's category. Now, she has added another bronze medal, this time with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m Mixed Air Rifle Shooting event. In her first event, the 10m Air Pistol, Manu secured a historic bronze medal, ending India's 12-year medal drought and becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. Entering the finals with a score of 580 and a third-place position in Qualification, Bhaker completed the event with a 221.7 in the finals, closely missing out on silver and gold, which were won by South Korea's Jin Ye Ho and Yeji Kim, respectively. Reflecting on her journey, Bhaker said, "After Tokyo, I was devastated, and it took me a lot of time to overcome that phase. I am happy that I could come out strong." “Focus on karma, not on the outcome of the karma,” she shared during her interview with JioCinema broadcasters, explaining how she recalled this statement from the Bhagavad Gita throughout her finals. Her patience and determination shone through again in the 10m Mixed Air Rifle event, where she partnered with Sarabjot Singh to win another bronze. The duo scored 580 points and achieved 20 perfect shots in the finals, securing India's second medal at the Paris Games. With this victory, Bhaker joined the ranks of Norman Pritchard (athletics), Sushil Kumar (wrestling), and PV Sindhu (badminton) as one of the few Indians to win multiple Olympic medals. However, no Indian had ever won multiple medals in a single edition—until Bhaker's extraordinary performance in Paris. After nearly quitting the sport to win two Olympic bronze medals in a single edition, she has created several historic achievements, becoming the first Indian to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games in over a century. After her back-to-back achievements, the nation hopes and prays for her success in the 25m Air Rifle Women's category. Apart from Bhaker's remarkable achievements, other Indian athletes have also showcased their talents at Paris 2024. In boxing, Amit Panghal (men's 51 kg) and Jaismine Lamboria (women's 57 kg) faced defeats in their respective rounds, while Preeti Pawar is set to compete later. In archery, Bhajan Kaur advanced to the Round of 16 in the women's individual event. In rowing, Balraj Panwar finished 5th in the men's single sculls quarterfinal. Additionally, the Indian men's hockey team celebrated a 2-0 victory over Ireland.
02 Aug 2024
Meemansha Srivastava
