Historic Achievement:
- Event: Women’s 10m Air Pistol
- Medal: Bronze
- Olympics: Paris 2024
Significance:
- Manu Bhaker, aged 22, made history by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win a medal at the Olympics. Her bronze medal in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol event marks a significant milestone in Indian sports.
Key Highlights of Manu Bhaker’s Career:
- Youngest Indian to Win Gold at ISSF World Cup: At 16, she secured gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
- Asian Games 2022: Won gold along with Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan.
Government Support and Training:
- Financial Investment: Approximately Rs 2 crore was spent on her training.
- Training Locations: Germany and Switzerland.
- Support: Provided financial aid to hire a coach of her choice.
Union Sports Minister’s Remarks:
- Mansukh Mandaviya: Congratulated Manu Bhaker and highlighted the extensive support provided to athletes to ensure their best performance at national and international levels.
Upcoming Competitions:
- 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Competition: Manu Bhaker will compete alongside Sarabjot Singh.
- Additional Indian Shooters: Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta will participate in the women’s and men’s 10m air rifle events, respectively.
- Men’s Archery Team: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Jadhav will compete in the quarterfinals against Turkiye or Colombia.
Sunday’s Performances:
- Ramita Jindal: Qualified for the final of the women’s 10m air rifle event.
- Arjun Babuta: Secured a spot in the final of the men’s event.
Notable Achievements in the Event:
- South Korea’s Ye Jin: Won gold with an Olympic record of 243.2 points.
- Kim Yeji: Secured silver with 241.3 points.
Historical Context:
- Manu Bhaker’s achievement is particularly notable given her redemption arc after a pistol malfunction at the Tokyo Olympics. She became the first Indian woman in 20 years to reach a shooting final in an individual event at the Olympics since Suma Shirur in 2004.
Encouragement for Athletes:
- The Union Sports Minister emphasized the importance of supporting and encouraging athletes, particularly through social media campaigns like #CheerForBharat.
