In the luminous city of Paris, where dreams often intertwine with reality, Manu Bhaker, a 22-year-old shooting prodigy scripted an extraordinary chapter in Indian sports history. The Paris 2024 Olympics witnessed Bhaker clinch two medals, making her the first Indian female athlete to achieve such a feat in a single Olympic edition.
Her journey to this pinnacle was marked by relentless dedication and an unyielding spirit.
In the women’s 10m air pistol event, Bhaker secured a bronze, a victory that broke a 12-year shooting medal drought for India. “I’m so grateful that I could break the chain and get this medal,” Bhaker wrote on ‘X’.
She then joined forces with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, where they displayed exceptional coordination and mental fortitude to secure another bronze, winning over Korea with a score of 16-10.
Bhaker’s ascent in the shooting world has been nothing short of meteoric. Born on 18 February, 2002, in the small Jhajjar district of Haryana, she initially dabbled in a variety of sports — from boxing and skating to tennis and martial arts. However, it was shooting where she found her true calling.
She completed her schooling at Universal Public Secondary School and graduated with an honours degree in political science from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, in 2021. Currently, she is pursuing a degree in public administration at Punjab University.
Her talent in shooting became evident on the global stage in 2018 when she clinched multiple gold medals at the ISSF World Cup, becoming one of the youngest athletes to achieve such a feat. Her performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games further cemented her status as a shooting prodigy, where she won gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event.
Bhaker’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a pistol malfunction denied her a shot at a medal in the same event. However, she transformed that setback into a powerful comeback. Four years later, her outstanding performance in Paris has proved she is a force to be reckoned with.
Interestingly, Bhaker approached the Paris Games with a balanced mind, taking online violin classes in the months leading up to them! This contrasted with her experience in Tokyo, where she had gone too deep into her shell. The lesson from Tokyo, she believes, was crucial. “If I didn’t have that lesson in my life, maybe I wouldn’t be here today,” she told Hindustan Times.
“I’m glad that at such a young age, in my first Olympics experience, I learned the kind of things that people take years to learn,” she added.
If you see her train, her discipline, blended with a hunger for excellence, would easily catch your attention. Bhaker has always credited her family, coaches, and support staff for being her support system. She says that their collective belief in her talent has propelled her to this success.
The impact of her achievements is not confined to personal glory or her family’s pride. They have also inspired a new generation of Indian athletes, particularly young girls, to pursue their dreams in sports.
As Bhaker continues to compete, she remains a strong medal prospect in the upcoming 25m pistol event at the Paris Olympics. Her historic accomplishments in 2024 have already solidified her legacy in Indian sports, and she is poised to achieve even greater heights in the future.
Edited by Pranita Bhat
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