First Medal for India at Paris 2024: Manu Bhaker Secures Bronze in Shooting

India has officially opened its medal count at the Paris Olympics 2024, thanks to a stellar performance by 22-year-old shooter Manu Bhaker. Bhaker clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol final, becoming the first Indian to win a medal at this year’s games and the first female Indian shooter to achieve this feat.

Exceptional Skill and Composure

Throughout the competition, Bhaker displayed remarkable skill and composure, consistently maintaining a top-three position. Heading into the final shot, she was in second place, just 0.1 points ahead. However, a slight slip saw her finish in third place, securing the bronze with a total of 221.7 points.

Path to the Final

Bhaker's journey to the podium began with a strong performance in the qualification rounds. She finished third with a score of 580, a recovery from a challenging day for Indian shooters. Hungarian shooter Veronika Major led the qualification with a score of 582, while Bhaker’s compatriot Rhythm Sangwan finished 15th with 573.

Bhaker's consistent performance included scoring 97 points in both the first and second series, positioning her in fourth place early on. A stellar 98 in the third series saw her move up to second place. Despite an 8 in the fifth series, she secured her spot in the final.

Other Indian Performances

In addition to Bhaker’s success, Ramita Jindal also made it to a final at the Paris Olympics. Jindal finished fifth in the women’s 10m air rifle qualification with a score of 631.5. However, Elavenil Valarivan, another Indian contender, narrowly missed the final, finishing 10th with 630.7. Jindal, a bronze medallist at the Hangzhou Asian Games, became the second Indian shooter to qualify for a final at these games.

Bhaker's Redemption

This bronze medal marks a significant turnaround for Bhaker, who faced a disappointing campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finishing without a medal across three events. Her emotional reaction upon winning the bronze at Paris highlighted the contrast from three years ago, showcasing her resilience and determination.

Future Competitions

Following her bronze medal win, Bhaker is set to compete in the 10m pistol mixed team and 25m pistol events, aiming to add more medals to her tally and further boost India's performance at the Paris Olympics 2024.