Manu Bhaker is an Indian Olympian who competed in shooting at the Paris Olympics 2024. She makes every Indian proud. Manu Bhaker was born in Haryana, India, on February 18, 2002. She won two bronze medals in shooting for her country. She is the daughter of a chief engineer of the merchant navy named Ram Kishan Bhaker and Sumedha, a school principal. She was born in Haryana, a state popular for boxers and wrestlers.
However, she decides to become a shooter and make India proud. Manu Bhaker sculpted her name in history after winning two back-to-back medals in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Besides shooting, she also participates in various games like tennis, skating and boxing. She also wins national-level events in “thang ta”, a martial art that originated from Manipur, India. She also won state-level skating. But after completing boards, she wanted to become a doctor. Fortunately, she started her shooting journey after the 2016 Rio Olympics when she was 14.
Achievements
Manu Bhaker won her first-ever international silver medal in the 2017 Asian Junior Championship. This year (2017), she won nine gold medals and surprised every Indian. She defeated multiple World Cup medalists Heena Sidhu and broke her record (240.8) by scoring 242.3 points in the final. After that, his father supported her and invested in her competitive shooting training. In 2018, Manu Bhaker won the gold medal in the women’s 10-meter air pistol in the ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) World Cup. She became the youngest Indian and probably the third youngest shooter to win a World Cup gold. She also won the second World Cup gold medal in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team with Om Prakash Mitharval.
In 2018, Manu Bhaker won a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. She became the first Indian shooter and female athlete to grab a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games. After winning a gold medal in the 10-meter pistol mixed event in the ISSF World Cup 2019, she became the strongest contender for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But in the finals of the 25-meter pistol event in the Tokyo Olympics, her gun jammed, and she could not fire.
On July 28 2024, she secured 3rd rank in a 10-meter air pistol event in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, won the bronze medal and opened the notebook of medals for India. After two days, on July 30, 2024, she again won a gold medal in the 10-meter air pistol mixed shooting event with Sarabjot Singh.
Extremely humbled by the support and wishes that have been pouring in. This is something that I've always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my country 🇮🇳 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8U6sHOLulR
— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) July 30, 2024Inspirations
Manu Bhaker’s coach praised her in an interview. He is pleased because his disciple represents India, wins a medal, and makes every Indian proud. He also added that she has a strong mentality and courage that help her achieve everything. He never compromises on discipline in the range (a shooter’s practice area). Manu Bhaker’s achievements prove that discipline makes a man perfect. Her coach believes that she will win more medals in her shooting career.
🇮🇳🤯 @realmanubhaker breaking records!
First Indian woman to win a medal in Shooting ✅
First to win 2 medals at an @Olympics for India ✅
First-ever team medal for India ✅ #ISSF | #ShootingSport | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/MFQNIWl27k
— ISSF (@issf_official) July 30, 2024In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Manu Bhaker’s pistol malfunctioned, and she could not fire. Due to the incident, she missed the qualification round of the 10-meter air rifle and the medal round of the 25-meter pistol—every athlete dreams of winning a medal for their country in the Olympic games.
Unfortunately, Manu Bhaker did not get any medal due to the malfunction of the gun. But she made a bolstering comeback and secured 3rd rank in the Paris Olympic 2024 in the 10-meter air pistol on the 28th and 30th of July, 2024. In an interview after winning the bronze medal, she reads “Bhagwat Gita”. It helps her to balance the life of the Haryana athlete. She also said she gets all life’s answers in “Bhagwat Gita”. Her coach, Jaspal Rana, helps the Indian shooter to understand her spiritual life.
Records
Manu Bhaker is India’s youngest shooter (16) and probably the third youngest shooter to win a World Cup gold medal. She is the first female athlete from India to earn a gold medal at the Youth Olympics and the first woman shooter from India to grab a medal. She and Sarbjot Singh become India’s first Olympic shooting team medal. Currently, she is the first woman from India with two bronze medals to be ever won in the Olympics.
