New Delhi: After being left gutted at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 three years ago because of a gun malfunction, Indian shooter Manu Bhaker bagged bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol on Sunday (July 28) in what will be known as one of the biggest comeback in the sporting landscape.
The 22-year-old Manu accumulated a total score of 221.7 from a total of 22 shots in the 8-women final. She maintained a top three positions right from the first stage, scoring 101.5 in the first 10 shots. A total of 15 shots were marked over 10.
A day after securing a spot in the final with a score of 580 in the qualification round, Manu was head and shoulders above Hungarian shooter Veronika Major, who topped the qualification round featuring the Indian youngster. Veronika was the first among the eight finalists to bow out once the elimination round kicked off post 10 shots.
Manu comes from Tokyo ghost to finish on podium
Manu continued her quest for a medal even though she didn’t come anywhere near the gold medal with the two South Koreans, Kim Yeji and Oh Ye Jin reigning the top spot for the entire event. However, Manu had a great opportunity to leave with a silver after she was placed second after completion of 21 shots. With 211.4 total, Manu claimed a slender lead of o.1 point ahead of Kim Yeji but the 31-year-old regained her spot after targeting 10.5 while the Indian shot 10.3 in the 22 shot.
Manu was declared third leaving the two Koreans to vie for the gold medal. The bronze medal was a redemption for the Indian shooter after she endured a weapon medal function in the qualification event of the same discipline, failing to make the final.
Manu Bhaker gets the ball rolling for #TeamIndia with a Bronze medal 🥉 in 10m pistol shooting!
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— JioCinema (@JioCinema) July 28, 2024
Manu became the first Indian women shooter to account for a medal at the Olympics, with the country counting its fifth medal overall in shooting, the first after a span of 12 years as India blanked at the Rio and Tokyo editions.
“India deserves many more medals. As many as possible. The feeling is really surreal, it takes a lot of effort. In the last shot, I was fighting with all the energy I had. Maybe I can get better in the next (event). I was doing what I was supposed to do. After Tokyo, I was very disappointed. It took me a long time to get over that,” Manu told the official broadcaster after bagging the medal.
Manu’s journey at Paris is not over yet as she will pair Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
The 22-year-old Manu Bhaker accumulated a total score of 221.7 from a total of 22 shots in the 8-women final. She maintained a top three positions right from the first stage, scoring 101.5 in the first 10 shots. A total of 15 shots were marked over 10. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
