Shooter Manu Bhaker continues her sensational run at the Paris Olympics. The star markswoman first secured a historic bronze in the women's 10m air pistol on July 28, becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal. Two days later, Manu achieved the same honour in the mixed team 10m air pistol event, making her the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single Olympic Games. Manu's remarkable achievements have made her an inspiration for emerging athletes, and her recent interview revelation further enhances her stature.
"I have always known the greats in Indian sports history. In my time, I have always known (PV) Sindhu and Neeraj (Chopra). I have always appreciated them for their hard work. There was this one time when I made a fake profile to defend Sindhu. Some haters commented and I got so triggered that I made a fake account to defend her on that," Manu Bhaker told Sportstar.
Reacting to Bhaker's revelation on X, Sindhu wrote: "Haha what a sweetheart!!! Welcome to the 2 Olympic medal club Manu!! Way to go."
Manu Bhaker's achievements were double delight as she clinched a historic 10m air pistol mixed team bronze with Sarabjot Singh at the Olympic Games. Within 72 hours, she joined the ranks of India’s greatest athletes by being a driving force in the country's campaign. A significant 124 years after British-Indian Norman Pritchard won silver medals in the 200m sprint and 200m hurdles in the Paris edition of the Games, Bhaker became the first athlete from post-independent India to win two individual medals in the same Olympics.
Bhaker, alongside the composed Sarabjot Singh, secured the 10m air pistol mixed team bronze with a superb display of nerve control under high pressure. The Indian pair triumphed over the Korean duo of Lee Wonoho and Oh Yeh Jin with a score of 16-10. This victory marked a significant turnaround for Bhaker, erasing the painful memories of her disappointing Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, where her pistol malfunctioned, leaving her in tears.
But Bhaker's campaign is not over yet. She remains in contention for another podium finish in the 25m sports pistol event, with qualifications set for August 2.
While Tuesday’s medal is a monumental achievement for women’s sports in the country, it also represents redemption for Sarabjot Singh, who had failed to advance to the men's 10m air pistol final, finishing ninth with a score of 577.
"Actually we can’t control (what the rivals will do), we can do what is in our hand. My partner and I thought let's just try our best and we will keep fighting till the end," said Bhaker.
Sarabjot Singh, who had been grappling with the disappointment from the individual competition, expressed relief and satisfaction after their mixed team success. "I’m feeling good. The game was very tough and there was a lot of pressure. I am very happy," said the 22-year-old from a farming family.
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