New Delhi, India, July 29, 2024: The Indian Olympic Association has hailed Manu Bhaker for her bronze medal performance in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Sunday, July 28.
The IOA posted on its Facebook page: “The 1st medal for India @paris2024 Olympic Games. The first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. Take a bow, @bhakermanu!”
Three years after her Tokyo Olympics was derailed by a pistol malfunction, the 22-year-old Bhaker claimed the bronze medal behind two Korean shooters – gold medallist Oh Ye Jin and Kim Yeji, who took the silver.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate Bhaker, who was the first female shooter from India to reach an Olympic final in the last 20 years.
Bhaker also joins an exclusive male club of four Indian shooters to win an Olympic medal in the sport.
The last time India won an Olympic medal in shooting was at London 2012 when Vijay Kumar (men’s 25m rapid fire pistol) took the silver and Gagan Narang (men’s 10m air rifle) won a bronze.
Abhinav Bindra is the only Indian shooter to win an Olympic gold medal, accomplishing the feat at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in the men’s 10m air rifle.
