Manu Bhaker also opened the country’s medal account in Paris with a bronze medal
Paris: Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh secured a bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The duo showcased resilience and composure, overcoming a slow start to defeat South Korea 16-10 in a thrilling match.
The contest began with the Indian pair on the back foot, losing the first series. However, Bhaker and Singh quickly regained their footing, displaying exceptional skill and teamwork.
They took control by the third series, leading 4-2, and extended their advantage to 8-2 after five series. South Korea mounted a comeback attempt, narrowing the gap to 6-10 by the eighth series, but Bhaker and Singh remained unflinching. The Indian shooters sealed the victory with a decisive 16-10 margin, securing India's second medal of the Games.
After the match, an elated Bhaker expressed her gratitude, saying, "I feel really proud and have a lot of gratitude. Thank you so much for all the blessings and love. We can only control what is in our hands. I had a chat with my father regarding this before coming here and decided we should keep fighting till the last shot," said the broadcasters.
Sarabjot Singh, celebrating his first Olympic medal, echoed her sentiments. "It feels great. The game was tough, but we were glad we could do it. There was a lot of pressure, but the crowd was great," he said, acknowledging the support that spurred them on. The pair had entered the bronze medal match after finishing third in the qualifying round with a combined score of 580.
This bronze is a historic personal achievement for Bhaker, who became the first Indian to win multiple medals at a single Olympic Games. She had previously opened India's medal account in Paris with a bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event. Following her victory, Bhaker said she has always been nervous before the matches.
Proud to perform at biggest stage: ManuParis: Manu Bhaker made history once again in less than 48 hours by becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games. After her dual podium finish, the sharpshooter is on cloud nine and said she is 'proud to perform at the biggest stage' for her country. Manu made history by becoming the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal, bagging a bronze in the Women's 10m Air Pistol Individual event. "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," Manu wrote on X. Manu became the second Indian woman to win two Olympic medals after shuttler PV Sandhu, who clinched consecutive medals in the 2016 (silver) and 2020 (bronze) Olympics. Manu still has the 25m pistol event left to compete in, where she will compete alongside Esha Singh, giving her a chance to win a hat-trick of medals in Paris. With several records broken, this accomplishment represents a critical turning point in Indian sports history. |
Japan remain on top, China 2nd, India on 33rdParis: Coming into Day 5 of the Paris Olympics, Japan maintained its top spot in the medal tally with seven gold, two silver, and four bronze medals, taking their total count to 13. China is close, sitting second, with six gold medals, maintaining their upper hand in shooting and diving. They also have six silver and two bronze medals for a total count of 14 medals. Australia placed third with a total of 11 medals, including six golds. Hosts France continued to surprise, placing in fourth place with 18 medals, comprising five gold, nine silver, and four bronze medals. Despite winning their second medal -- a bronze that came via Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, India slipped to 33rd position in the table. |
