Heartbreak for Manu Bhaker! India's pistol pro misses out on making Olympic history in Paris
India's Manu Bhaker narrowly missed out on a podium finish, placing fourth in the women's 25m pistol final in the ongoing Paris Olympics.
The 22-year-old Bhaker shot 28 in the eight-women final. She lost to Hungarian bronze medallist Veronika Major in the shoot-off.
Bhaker's third-medal achievement was highly anticipated. She had already secured two bronze medals in — the 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team events with partner Sarabjot Singh.
At just 22, Manu is the second youngest Indian athlete to earn an Olympic medal. Her remarkable performance comes as a triumph over previous setbacks, including a pistol malfunction at the Tokyo Games. Her success reflects her intense determination and resilience.
Manu Bhaker: The rise of India's pistol ace
Manu Bhaker hails from Jhajjar, Haryana. She initially dabbled in various sports including tennis, skating, and boxing, as well as the martial art 'thang ta' earning national-level medals.
When Bhaker was 14, she shifted her focus to shooting, a decision that would soon change her life. Her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, supported her passion by purchasing a sports shooting pistol.
In 2017, Bhaker stunned the shooting world by breaking records and winning the 10m Air Pistol final at the national championships.
She dazzled at her ISSF World Cup debut in Guadalajara, Mexico, where she claimed gold, becoming the youngest Indian to do so.
Later, she won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and created history at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires by
