Manu Bhaker demonstrated remarkable composure, while Sarabjot Singh provided perfect support. The duo defeated South Korea to secure the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, marking a historic achievement at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
The Indian pair defeated the Koreans 16-10 to earn the country its second medal at the quadrennial showpiece. In the process, Bhaker became the first Indian post-independence to bag two medals in a single edition of the Games.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Manu-Sarabjot duo for their achievement at the Paris Olympics 2024, saying, “Our shooters continue to make us proud!”
“Congratulations to@realmanubhaker and Sarabjot Singh for winning the Bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the #Olympics. Both of them have shown great skills and teamwork. India is incredibly delighted,” PM Modi said.
“For Manu, this is her second consecutive Olympic medal, showcasing her consistent excellence and dedication. #Cheer4Bharat,” he added.
The ace Indian shooter who scripted history to become the first Indian athlete in post-independence era to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games said, “I'm feeling really proud and there is lot of gratitude, thanks for all the blessings.”
"Actually we can't control (what the rivals will do), we can do what is in our hand, me and my partner thought let's just try our best and we will keep fighting till the end," PTI quoted Bhaker as saying.
Bhaker will also compete in the women’s 25m pistol event, scheduled to start on Friday. She is the only athlete from the 21-member Indian shooting team to participate in multiple individual events.
Sarabjot Singh, 22-year-old Ambala shooter, said he was under a lot of pressure to perform.
"I'm feeling good, the game was very tough and there was a lot of pressure, I am very happy," Singh said, who comes from a farming family.
Bhaker started strongly, shooting a 10.2 on her opening shot. Sarabjot Singh’s 8.6 cost India the first two points but he recovered quickly with scores of 10.5, 10.4 and 10 to help India take the next six points. Bhaker struck at least a 10 on her first seven shots. She hit a 9.4 but a 10.2 from Singh confirmed the medal for India.
The Indian shooters had 19 of their 26 shots hit at least a 10 while the South Koreans had 12 shots hit a minimum of 10.
This was India’s sixth Olympic medal in shooting and first-ever in a shooting team event. The only other time Indian shooters won two medals in shooting at a single edition of the Olympics was in London 2012. Gagan Narang (men’s 10m air rifle) and Vijay Kumar (men’s 25m rapid fire pistol) won silver and bronze, respectively.
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won India’s first Olympic medal in shooting with a silver at Athens 2004 in the men’s double trap. Abhinav Bindra won India’s only gold medal in shooting in the men’s 10m air rifle at Beijing 2008.
