Manu Bhaker is now a household name after her 2024 Paris Olympics medal-winning performance. But the talented 22-year-old shooter was a bright prospect and a medal contender right from the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics campaign. And similar was the case in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where the star faced the unthinkable ‘gun fiasco’ breaking her dream of winning the medal on debut. She even thought of quitting the sport, but decided against it and now itched her name into the history books with a bronze medal at Paris Olympics 2024. 'Manu-Scripting History’ Fans Heap Praise on Manu Bhaker As She Becomes First Indian Female Shooter To Win Olympic Medal by Clinching Bronze in Women’s 10m Air Pistol Event at Paris Olympics 2024.

What Happened to Manu Bhaker’s Gun at the Tokyo Olympics 2020?

The event at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 was a nightmare for Manu Bhaker, for any athlete in that case as one of the most trusted partners for a shooter at the games - the shooting equipment failed during the qualification rounds denying her entry into the finals. The multiple World Cup gold medalist opened up on the pressure she faced during her maiden Olympic appearance. She admitted that the glitch rattled her during the Olympic Games.

In an interview post-Olympics 2020 Manu Bhaker said, “When I fixed the lever and adjusted the grip and I inserted the circuit, it stopped working. So it was like a double problem. I was blank. I wasn’t expecting so many problems in an air pistol. I changed the circuit as well and went into my lane and I asked for sighters," Bhaker was, in fact, the lone Indian shooter tasked to represent the country across three events at Tokyo 2020. Manu Bhaker’s Coach Ronak Pandit Slams Gun Manufacturer Morini, Blames Them for Planting Anti-Manu Stories in the Media.

How Manu Bhaker Overcame Setback and Won Medal at Paris Olympics 2024?

Despite the heartbreak and ‘shameful’ exit wherein Manu gave her best but was failed by ‘Faulty Pistol’ Manu Bhaker made a strong comeback into the circuit and won the team gold for India in the women's 25m pistol team event at the 2022 Asian Games, along with Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan. Preparing for the Olympic Games, the star delivered at every national and international event, and was the best performer at the trials also.

Putting a step on the paddle late in the qualifying round Manu Bhaker qualified for the finals finishing third. She continued her form and won the bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She won with a score of 221.7 in the final, in the women's 10-meter Air Pistol category. But we might have more medals from the ‘revitalised’ Bhaker as she will be in action again at the Paris Olympics 2024 in Mixed 10M Air Pistol and Women’s 25 M Air Pistol.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 28, 2024 05:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).