Manu Bhaker celebrating her win at the Paris Olympics (AP)
Bhaker finally brought to end a 12-year medal drought for the Indian contingent in Shooting at the Olympics, bringing India their fifth medal in Shooting across their Olympics history.
Words seem to escape all when Manu Bhaker is mentioned, as the young 22-year-old secured a historic Bronze for India at the 10m Air Pistol Final at the 2024 Paris Olympics today.
Bhaker not only brought in the nation’s first medal at the Paris Olympics, but also in the process created history for multiple reasons.
The Indian’s trailblazing win was the first-ever medal secured by an Indian woman in Shooting at the Olympics.
Yet another achievement was the fact that Bhaker finally brought to end a 12-year medal drought for the Indian contingent in Shooting at the Olympics, bringing India their fifth medal in Shooting across their Olympics history.
The previous medal finish for India in Shooting came from 25m Rapid Fire Pistol shooter Vijay Kumar, who clinched a Silver at the 2012 London Olympics.
So, let us take a look at the medals clinched by Indian shooters at the Olympics so far:
1) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore – Silver medal at 2004 Athens Olympics (Men’s Double Trap)
The man who started it all. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore made headlines in 2004 when he became the first Indian to win an Olympics individual silver medal post-independence.
Leading up to the Olympics, Rathore had an insanely successful outing, having won the gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and followed it with a bronze at the 2003 World Championships.
When it all mattered the most in the 2004 Olympic final, he overcame a stiff challenge from China’s Wang Zheng and fell short of Ahmed Al Maktoum to clinch the silver medal and etched his name in the history books.
2) Abhinav Bindra – Gold medal at 2008 Beijing Olympics (Men’s 10m Air Rifle)
A name that shall resonate in the hearts of Indians forever. The Golden Boy for India. Abhinav Bindra’s Olympic triumph was one for the history books, as the shooter brought home the greatest Olympic glory of them all that had eluded the nation for decades on end: India’s first-ever Gold medal.
The Dehradun-born Bindra finished fourth in the qualifying round at the 2008 Olympics but blazed through in the final to tie with Henri Hakkinen from Finland with one shot remaining.
In the final attempt, Abhinav Bindra shot an almost-perfect 10.8 to bag the gold medal as Hakkinen managed only 9.7. The rest, as they say, is history.
3) Gagan Narang – Bronze medal at 2012 London Olympics (Men’s 10m Air Rifle)
India enjoyed fine success at the London Games and the shooting contingent, including Gagan Narang, sparked it.
After a shocking run in the 2008 Bejing Olympics, it was Naran’s time to shine in 2012, as he took the mantle for India, entering the finals, after defending champions Abhinav Bindra crashed out in qualification itself.
Narang put on a clinic in the final and ended with 701.1 to claim the bronze medal – India’s first medal at the London Olympics.
4) Vijay Kumar – Silver medal at 2012 London Olympics (Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol)
After Rathore’s success, it was time for army man Vijay Kumar to bring glory to India.
Vijay Kumar entered the 2012 Olympics as the reigning Commonwealth Games champions, and he continues to impress.
As other shooters kept dropping out in the eliminations of the Olympics, Vijay Kumar shot brilliantly to move ahead till the final two remained.
However, Cuba’s Leuris Pupo had already taken a comfortable lead heading into the final shot and the Indian rifle shooter ended in second place for a silver.
5) Manu Bhaker – Bronze medal at 2024 Paris Olympics (Women’s 10m Air Pistol)
History was made, as India’s Manu Bhaker brought home the nation’s first medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics, clinching a bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Final on Sunday.
Manu Bhaker finished her run after 22 shots, scoring 221.7, falling just 0.1 short of overthrowing second placed Yeji Kim in the penultimate series.
Nonetheless, her bronze medal shall go down in Indian history as a monumental achievement, and she shall be remembered as the Olympian who opened up India’s medal hunt in 2024.
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