Manu Bhaker narrowly missed out on clinching her third medal at the Paris Olympics. Competing in the women’s 25-meter pistol final, the 22-year-old shooter finished in fourth place, just missing the bronze medal.
Despite being among the top five in a fiercely competitive final, Hungary’s Veronika Major outperformed her in the bronze medal shoot-off. Earlier in the competition, Bhaker made history as the first Indian shooter to win two medals in a single Olympic campaign.
She earned a bronze in the 10m air pistol event and, alongside Sarabjot Singh, secured another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol.
Bhaker’s outstanding performance saw her qualifying for the 25m pistol final, finishing second in the qualification round.
The final began with a challenging start for Bhaker, as she managed only 2 points in her opening series. However, she quickly found her rhythm, delivering a series of impressive shots that propelled her into the top three.
Her flawless series brought India within reach of another historic medal. The competition intensified during the shoot-off, as Bhaker tied for third place with Major, who had equaled the Olympic qualifying record.
Unfortunately, Bhaker scored just 2 points in the shoot-off, while Major secured 4, leaving Bhaker in fourth place.
After the competition, Bhaker expressed her disappointment but remained hopeful for future achievements.
With two medals to her name, she joins the ranks of esteemed Indian athletes such as PV Sindhu and Sushil Kumar, who have also won two Olympic medals.
Bhaker’s earlier success in the 10m air pistol event had boosted her morale and inspired the broader Indian contingent.
Additionally, Swapnil Kusale made history by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event, contributing to India’s overall medal tally of three in shooting.