Olympics 2024: Manu Bhaker Makes History as First Indian Woman Shooter to Win Olympic Medal
Manu Bhaker won bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle, finishing just 0.1 points behind the silver medalist.
22-year-old shooter Manu Bhaker won bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol final, becoming the first Indian to secure a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She also made history as the first female Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal. Bhaker maintained an excellent standard throughout the event, demonstrating incredible skill and composure while spending the majority of the competition in the top three. Her achievement opens India’s medal tally in Paris, with the nation aiming to surpass its previous medal count of seven from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Bhaker was 0.1 points ahead in second place heading into the final shot but slipped to third after it. She finished with 221.7 points, having scored a 10.3 on her final shot, while silver medalist Yeji Kim scored a 10.5. This last-minute change caused Bhaker to lose the second spot by a narrow margin, but she still clinched the bronze medal.
Bhaker’s Supreme Qualification
Bhaker qualified for the final in third position, rescuing a challenging day for Indian shooting on Saturday, July 27. She scored 580 in the qualifications, finishing third. Hungarian shooter Veronika Major took the top spot with a score of 582. The other Indian representative, Rhythm Sangwan, finished 15th with a score of 573.
The Haryana shooter made a strong start with 97 points, securing the fourth spot at the end of Series 1.
Bhaker scored 97 again in the second series, maintaining her fourth-place position. Meanwhile, Sangwan dropped to 26th after a poor performance, including an 8. Bhaker climbed into the top two after an impressive 98 in her third series.
Despite scoring an 8 in the fifth series—her first poor shot in an otherwise stellar qualification—Bhaker remained competitive and ultimately qualified for the final.
Ramita Makes 10m Air Rifle Final
India’s Ramita Jindal delivered a strong performance to qualify for the women’s 10m air rifle final, finishing in fifth place. Meanwhile, Elavenil Valarivan, despite being a strong contender, succumbed to pressure and finished 10th. The Olympic Games are taking place in Chateauroux, France.
Ramita, who won bronze in the event at the Hangzhou Asian Games, scored a total of 631.5, securing her place in the final as the second Indian shooter to do so, after Manu Bhaker in the pistol event. Elavenil scored 630.7 and missed out on the final.
