Sports has always been an exhilarating spectacle, but I must confess, I never quite embraced the role of a sports aficionado. While I revelled in the excitement and communal energy of the games, my understanding of the intricacies remained rather limited.
My gateway into the sports realm was predominantly through films. Movies like Chak De India, which spotlighted the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, and Dangal, narrating the triumphs of an Indian family of female wrestlers who clinched gold at the Commonwealth Games, played a pivotal role in shaping my awareness, especially regarding women’s sports.
Does this mean female athletes deserve more recognition? Absolutely. Today, we spotlight another trailblazing woman in sports: Manu Bhaker, the 22-year-old Indian Olympian who clinched our first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, striking bronze in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol final at the Chatearoux Shooting Center. The athlete has brought home the glory after a wait of 13 years in the category. Her journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
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Hailing from Jhajjar, Haryana—a state famed for its boxers and wrestlers—Bhaker dabbled in various sports like tennis, skating, martial arts, and boxing. However, it was at 14, post the 2016 Rio Olympics, that she discovered her passion for shooting, a choice that would change her destiny.
With unwavering support from her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy, Manu was equipped with a sport shooting pistol to hone her skills. This marked the beginning of her remarkable ascent in the world of sports.
Bhaker’s breakthrough came in 2017 at the national shooting championships, where she set a record score of 242.3, surpassing Olympian Heena Sidhu’s mark to win the 10m Air Pistol final. She further secured a silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships.
Her international debut in 2018 at the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara was historic—she became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the event. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, she shattered a Games record to clinch the women’s 10m Air Pistol gold.
The dynamic duo of Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary dominated the mixed team gold medals at all three ISSF World Cups in 2019, and Bhaker claimed both individual and mixed team gold at the World Cup final in China. She continued her winning streak with gold and silver in the 10m Air Pistol at the 2021 New Delhi ISSF World Cup and a bronze in the 25m Air Pistol, solidifying her status as a medal favourite for the Tokyo Olympics.
From a young age, Bhaker has been a beacon of inspiration for countless young girls aspiring to carve a path in sports and bring glory to the nation. Her story, filled with determination and triumph, continues to motivate and redefine the field for many.
Also Read: P.V. Sindhu: The Inspiring Trailblazer Elevating Indian Sports To New Heights
Smriti Mandhana: A Force In Redefining Women’s Cricket And Inspiring A New Generation
