Paris 2024 Olympics: On July 28, Manu Bhaker made history by winning a bronze medal in the air pistol event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking the first medal for India in these games. This was Bhaker’s second Olympics, having qualified after securing fifth place in the women’s 25m pistol event at the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships. Reflecting on her achievement, Bhaker shared her mantra: “Focus on karma, not on the outcome of the karma. That was running in my head. I thought, ‘do your thing and let it all be,’” she told the media after her victory. This philosophy emphasizes concentrating on your actions rather than being fixated on results, akin to planting seeds and tending to them with care, regardless of the eventual harvest. By focusing on intentional and sincere efforts, one can release the anxiety associated with outcomes and embrace the natural progression of events.

Born in Haryana, Bhaker began her shooting journey at age 14, shortly after the 2016 Rio Olympics. According to her biography on the Olympic portal, “She impulsively decided to try shooting and loved it. Within a week, Manu Bhaker asked her father to get her a sport shooting pistol to hone her craft.”

Winning this medal is a dream come true, not just for me but for everyone who has supported me. I am deeply grateful to the NRAI, SAI, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Coach Jaspal Rana sir, Haryana government and OGQ. I dedicate this victory to my country for their incredible… pic.twitter.com/hnzGjNwUhv

— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) July 28, 2024

Here’s a glimpse of her remarkable journey in air pistol:

1. Manu Bhaker was born in 2002 in Jhajjar, Haryana.
2. She showed an early interest in sports like tennis, skating, and boxing at school and excelled in the martial art ‘thang ta,’ winning national medals.
3. At the 2017 national shooting championships, she set a record score of 242.3, surpassing Heena Sidhu’s record.
4. She won a silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships.
5. She debuted at the International Sport Shooting Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, and broke the junior world record.
6. Bhaker became the first Indian shooter to win the 10m Air Pistol gold at the Youth Olympics.
7. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she faced a setback when her pistol malfunctioned during the 10m air pistol qualification, preventing her from medaling.