Manu Bhakar opened India’s medal tally at the Olympics 2024 in Paris. She claimed the bronze in the 10m Women’s Air Pistol Event. Shooters from Korea claimed the top 2 spots. Manu has become the first Indian woman to win a medal in shooting in Olympic history. Manu missed the silver medal by just 0.1 points. 22-year-old shooter Manu Bhaker scored 580 in the qualification round to finish third and make it to the finals.
Apart from Manu, Ramita Jindal has made it to the finals of 10m air rifle. Ramita’s final match will be held tomorrow i.e. on 29th July.
Ends 12 year drought in shooting
Earlier in the history of Olympics, India had won four medals in shooting, but all four times male shooters had achieved this success. The first medal in shooting for India was won by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in the 2004 Athens Olympics when he won the silver medal in men’s double trap. After this, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal for India in the 10 meter air rifle event. India got its third medal in shooting in the 2012 London Olympics when Gagan Narang won the bronze medal in the 10 meter air rifle event. Now, Manu has etched her name in history books with a bronze in 2024 Paris Olympics.