On Tuesday, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh secured India's second medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. They triumphed over South Korea's Wonho Lee and Ye Jin Oh in the bronze medal playoff of the 10m air pistol mixed team event, winning with a score of 16-10. This victory was particularly special for Manu Bhaker, who made history by becoming the first Indian female athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics. She had previously won a bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event on July 28.
Who is Manu Bhaker?
Manu Bhaker, born on February 18, 2002, in Goria village, Jhajjar district of Haryana. She showed early talent in sports like boxing, tennis, and skating before focusing on shooting. Her father, Ramkrishna Bhaker, a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy, supported her initial training with a significant financial investment.
At the age of 16, she won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, after which she became the youngest Indian to do so. She continued her success at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup, winning multiple gold medals in events like the 10m air pistol and mixed team competitions.
In 2018, Bhaker clinched gold in the Women's 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, becoming the youngest Indian to win a gold in this competition. She also set a new Commonwealth Games record in the women's 10m air pistol event with a score of 240.9 points.
She won multiple gold medals in the 10m air pistol mixed team events with different partners at various ISSF World Cups in 2019. She also contributed to India's team gold in the women's 25m pistol team event at the 2022 Asian Games.
