Manu Bhaker, born on 18th February 2002 in Jhajjar, Haryana, India, has rapidly become a celebrity of the sport shooting world. From being interested in multiple sports to becoming double Olympic medal winner is a proof of her hard work, determination, and natural ability.
Early Life and Introduction to Sports
Having grown up in Haryana, a state that is famous for churning out sportspeople in sports such as boxing and wrestling, Bhaker was predisposed to sports from an early age. In school, she dabbled in several sports, including tennis, skating, boxing, and a traditional martial art called 'thang ta,' winning medals at the national level. Her well-rounded sporting experience provided a good foundation for what lay ahead.
Transition to Shooting
Inspired by the 2016 Rio Olympics, a 14-year-old Bhaker got interested in shooting. Her interest in the sport was instant and deep. Noticing her interest, her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, purchased a shooting pistol to encourage her growing interest. This marked the start of Bhaker's successful shooting career.
Rapid Ascent in Shooting
Bhaker's foray into competition shooting was anything but showbiz. She stunned experienced shooters at the 2017 National Shooting Championships by scoring a record 242.3 in the final of the 10m Air Pistol, toppling Olympian and former world number one Heena Sidhu.The victory ushered in a new name in Indian shooting.
Her first international appearance at the 2018 ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, further confirmed her stature. At 16 years of age, Bhaker shattered the junior world record in qualification rounds and won the gold medal in the women's 10m Air Pistol final, the youngest Indian to do so.
• 2018: Bhaker's fantastic performances didn't stop as she won gold at the women's 10m Air Pistol in the Commonwealth Games. She also became the first Indian shooter to win gold at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• 2019: Together with fellow shooter Saurabh Chaudhary, Bhaker swept the mixed team events, claiming gold medals in all three ISSF World Cups and the China World Cup final. She also won an Olympic quota spot with a fourth-place finish at the Munich ISSF World Cup.
• 2021: At New Delhi ISSF World Cup, Bhaker demonstrated her versatility by claiming gold and silver medals in the 10m Air Pistol competitions. The Tokyo Olympics were however challenging, where equipment failure marred her performance.
• 2022-2023: Exhibiting courage, Bhaker claimed a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol at the Cairo World Championships in 2022. She won gold in the 25m pistol at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023 and earned an Olympic quota for Paris 2024 following her fifth-place finish in the women's 25m pistol at the Asian Shooting Championships in Changwon.
Historic Achievement at the 2024 Paris Olympics
The 2024 Paris Olympics marked a historic achievement in the career of Bhaker. She made history by winning two bronze medals: one in women's 10m Air Pistol and another in the mixed 10m Air Pistol team event with Sarabjot Singh. This feat had her becoming the first Indian woman to have won an Olympic medal in shooting and the first Indian to have won two medals in a single Olympic after the country had attained independence. Bhaker attributed her victory to her coach, Jaspal Rana, who played a major role in helping her achieve this.
Personal Interests and Qualities
At 5 feet 7 inches and weighing around 54 kilograms, Bhaker balances her sporting commitments with outside interests like travel and music. She keeps her personal life private, with little information about her relationships being disclosed.
Records and Awards
Throughout her career, Bhaker has set numerous records and received numerous awards:
•Youngest Indian to have won a gold medal at an ISSF World Cup.
•First Indian shooter to win gold in the Youth Olympics.
•First Indian woman shooter to earn an Olympic medal.
•First Indian sportsperson to win two medals from a single edition of the Olympics in the 2024 Paris Summer Games.
•Multiple gold medals at the ISSF World Cups, the Commonwealth Games, and the Asian Games.
Conclusion
Manu Bhaker's transition from being a Haryana teenager and a keen sports enthusiast to a celebrated Olympian is the essence of commitment, determination, and perfection. Her achievement not only enhanced India's reputation in international shooting but also motivated many young sportspersons. Based on her continuous performance and dominance on the field, Bhaker's status as an Indian sporting icon is established with absolute certainty.
