Paris Olympics 2024: A Look At Manu Bhaker's Top 5 Shooting Performances Over The Years

The Indian contingent has opened its medal tally at the Paris Olympics 2024 thanks to an amazing performance by Manu Bhaker. The 22-year-old shooter clinched the bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event. Manu Bhaker's win has ended a 12-year-long medal drought for India in shooting. Also, Manu Bhaker has become the first-ever Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. On the other hand, India faced heartbreak in archery as the women’s team consisting of Deepika Kumari, Bhajan Kaur, and Ankita Bhakat lost to the Netherlands 6-0 in the quarter-finals. It is a historic achievement for Manu Bhaker as she brings home India's first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. In this blog piece, we take a look at Manu Bhaker's top 5 shooting performances over the years.

Paris Olympics 2024: A look at Manu Bhaker's top 5 shooting performances

The bronze medal-winning performance by Manu Bhaker was the highlight of the day and the event for India amidst some disappointments on Day 2 of the Paris Olympics 2024. Moreover, India still has a lot to look forward to with the likes of Manu Bhaker in action. Talking about the Olympic India schedule, Day 3 at the 2024 Paris Olympics will see the Indian contingent competing across five disciplines, including shooting, badminton and table tennis. After winning a bronze medal yesterday, here's a look at Manu Bhaker's top 5 shooting performances over the years.

1. Manu Bhaker wins historic bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024

Manu Bhaker displayed extreme calm and composure to bury the ghosts of the Tokyo Olympics and get India off the mark at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a historic bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event on Sunday. The 22-year-old shooter became the first Indian woman to win a medal in Gun shooting games at the Summer Olympic Games, ending a 12-year wait for an Olympic medal in shooting. The last time India won Olympic medals in shooting was at the London edition in 2012 when 10m air rifle shooter Gagan Narang clinched the bronze medal and rapid-fire pistol shooter Vijay Kumar won the silver medal. With Manu Bhaker back in action today in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event, one thing is for sure. She is part of an elite list of India's first medallists over the years in the Olympics.

𝙒𝙤𝙝 𝙥𝙚𝙝𝙡𝙖 𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙘 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙖𝙡𝙞 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 🥹🥉🇮🇳

Congratulations, Manu! 👏#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/uWJkBoAfSv

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) July 28, 2024

2. Manu Bhaker won the gold medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Manu Bhaker won the gold medal in the women's 10 m air pistol event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the age of 16 in her maiden Commonwealth Games appearance. Manu qualified for the finals of the women's 10m air pistol qualification round at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a score of 388. She won the gold medal in the women's 10m air pistol competition at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games by setting a new Commonwealth Games record with 240.9 points in the final round. Little did we know that Manu Bhaker would go on to be a part of an elite list of athletes to win India Olympics medals.

Our shooters are distinguishing themselves at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Manu Bhaker continues her stupendous form and bags a Gold in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event. Congratulations to her: PM @narendramodi #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/Srqozik5nu

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 8, 2018

3. Manu Bhaker became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal - ISSF World Cup 2018

Manu Bhaker defeated two-time champion Alejandra Zavala of Mexico to win the gold medal in the Women's 10-meter air pistol at the 2018 International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico. Manu Bhaker became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the World Cup when she took home the medal at the age of 16. In the decisive round, Manu Bhaker scored 237.5 compared to Alejandra Zavalaa's 237.1. In the mixed 10-meter Air Pistol team event, she partnered with Om Prakash Mitharval at the World Cup and took home her second gold medal. The golden pair defeated Sandra Reitz and Christian Reitz, who scored 475.2 and 476.1 points, respectively.

4. Manu Bhaker became the first Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games

Child prodigy Manu Bhaker was the Indian flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympics 2018. Talking about her performance, Manu Bhaker shot 236.5 to stand at the top of the points table in the women's 10m air pistol event at the Youth Olympics 2018. The 16-year-old Manu Bhaker became the first Indian shooter and the first Indian female athlete to grab a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games. She also won a silver medal at the Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol event.

Manu Bhaker is India’s pride!

Strong and determined, she proved her mettle by clinching the Gold in 10m Air Pistol Shooting event at 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Many congratulations on her achievement and may she bring many more laurels for the country. @realmanubhaker pic.twitter.com/Th7GmkTpAj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2018

5. Manu Bhaker stuns former World No. 1 Heena Sidhu in the 2017 National Games

Manu Bhaker shocked the former World No. 1 and multiple World Cup medallist Heena Sidhu in the 2017 National Shooting Championships held in Kerala, beating Heena Sidhu's record of 240.8 points. She shot a record score of 242.3 to outperform Sidhu and win the 10m Air Pistol final. Manu Bhaker also won 9 gold medals, which was just the start of her shooting career.