Manu Bhaker ended India’s long wait for an Olympic medal in shooting with a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. At 22 years old, Bhaker made history at the Chateauroux Range in France, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve this feat in this discipline.
This victory was particularly significant for Bhaker, who had been let down by a faulty pistol at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Her determination and perseverance were rewarded in Paris, where she secured the bronze with a score of 221.7 points.
South Korean shooter Kim Yeji narrowly edged out Bhaker by just 0.1 points to claim the silver medal, while the gold went to another South Korean competitor, Oh Ye Jin.
Beyond her achievements in shooting, Bhaker has shown her versatility in other areas. A video of Bhaker playing the national anthem on the violin at the MP Shooting Academy in Bhopal has recently resurfaced online. Since being posted on X, the video has garnered over 90,000 views.
Bhaker began taking music lessons a few months before the Olympics after her brother gifted her a violin. In the video, she is seen performing the anthem while sitting by a pool. Social media users have praised her for her versatility and dedication to both music and sports.
“She is multi-talented,” one user commented. Another added, “Saluting her indomitable spirit of patriotism.” A third user expressed pride, stating, “We are proud of our beloved Manu Bhaker.”
Throughout her shooting career, Bhaker has achieved numerous successes. At just sixteen, she won gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also secured gold at the ISSF World Cup and the 2022 Asian Games, alongside teammates Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan. To date, Bhaker has accumulated fifteen gold medals, three silvers, and one bronze.
