Manu Bhaker shines on Paris Day 1

ust when it seemed like India was in for another disappointing performance at the Olympics, Manu Bhaker stepped up and brightened the day. Manu Bhaker delivered a healing touch on Day 1 of the Paris Olympics, but a bigger goal awaits. Manu Bhaker is the first Indian woman shooter to qualify for the 10m air pistol final at the Olympics.

It was a sort of redemption for star shooter Manu Bhaker on Day 1 of the Paris Olympics 2024. Before the Jhajjar-born shooter made her mark on the opening day, there was a heavy feeling of déjà vu in the air. No Olympic medal in 12 years and only one finalist from 15 shooters at the Tokyo Summer Games — India’s shooting journey over the last two Games has been nothing short of a nightmare.

Shooting is the sport that gave India their first individual gold medal in the Olympics. Abhinav Bindra achieved this historic feat at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. That gold medal at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall marked the renaissance of Olympic sport in India. India won three medals at Beijing, marking the first time since Helsinki 1952 and only the second time in their history that the country won more than one medal.

Shooting led from the front as India went on to win a record six medals at the London 2012 Olympics, with two coming from shooting (Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang). However, things took a downturn after that. The subsequent Olympics saw a decline in India’s shooting performance, with no medals winning for the next two Games.

With Manu Bhaker’s impressive performance on Day 1 of the Paris Olympics, there is renewed hope for India’s shooting team. As the first Indian woman shooter to qualify for the 10m air pistol final, she has already made history. Yet, the journey is far from over, and a bigger goal still awaits. India looks forward to seeing if she can bring home a medal and reignite the country’s success in Olympic shooting.

Re-reported from the article originally published in Firstpost.