Paris Olympics 2024: Manu Bhaker Misses Historic Hat-Trick
Paris Olympics 2024: Manu Bhaker Misses Historic Hat-Trick
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker, known as the ‘Miracle Girl’, narrowly missed out on a historic third medal at the Paris Olympics. She competed in the 25m women’s pistol event. The 22-year-old finished fourth with a score of 28 in the eight-woman final. She was edged out by Hungary’s Veronika Major in a shoot-off for the bronze medal.
Bhaker had previously made history by becoming India’s first athlete to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympics, securing bronzes in both the 10m women’s air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team events alongside Sarabjot Singh. Despite her near-miss in the 25m pistol final, her achievements have firmly placed her name in the annals of Indian sporting history.
Earlier in the competition, Bhaker had showcased her skill by securing second place in the qualification round with a total of 590 points, scoring 294 in precision and 296 in rapid.
The final saw Korea’s Jiin Yang claim the gold medal after a shoot-off with France’s Camille Jedrzejewski, who took silver. Bhaker’s journey to this point has been marked by significant improvements in her shooting, thanks to her collaboration with former shooter-turned-coach Jaspal Rana.
Manu Bhaker hails from Goriya village in Jhajjar district of Haryana and has been involved in various sports including boxing, skating, athletics, tennis and judo karate before focusing on shooting. Her parents, particularly her father Ram Kishan Bhaker, have played a crucial role in her career. Ram Kishan, who worked as a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy, sacrificed his job to support Manu’s training, even providing her with the necessary equipment and transport.
Despite falling short of the hat-trick, Manu Bhaker’s dedication and achievements continue to inspire many, and her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and family support in achieving sporting excellence.
