Manu Bhaker became the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games. Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh took the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event on Tuesday.
The Indian duo triumphed over Korea's Lee Wonoho and Oh Yeh Jin with a score of 16-10, marking India’s second medal at Chateauroux’s shooting range.
At 22, Bhaker had already claimed the women’s 10m air pistol bronze medal at the same venue on Sunday, redeeming her disappointing Tokyo 2020 debut, where a pistol malfunction had left her in tears.
Before Bhaker, British-Indian athlete Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in the 200m sprint and 200m hurdles at the 1900 Olympics, but this was in the pre-Independence era.
This accomplishment is a significant milestone for women’s sports in India. It also serves as redemption for Sarabjot, who narrowly missed the men’s 10m air pistol final, finishing ninth on Saturday with a score of 577.
Expressing her joy, Bhaker said, “I’m feeling really proud and there is a lot of gratitude, thanks for all the blessings.” The Indian pair played with exceptional composure, dominating the match.
“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,” added Bhaker, hailing from Jhajjar in Haryana.
In Tokyo, Bhaker didn’t qualify for this event alongside Saurabh Chaudhary and finished seventh.
Sarabjot, who faced immense pressure following his individual performance disappointment, shared his relief and happiness after the victory. “The game was very tough and there was a lot of pressure. I am very happy,” said the 22-year-old, who comes from a farming family in Ambala.
The Indians started shakily with Sarabjot’s initial shot scoring a low 8.6, while Bhaker scored 10.2, totaling 18.8. The Koreans took the first round with 20.5, leading 2-0.
In mixed team events, the first pair to reach 16 points wins. Trailing 0-2, Bhaker’s consistency helped turn the tide, inspiring Sarabjot as they won the next four rounds to lead 8-2.
Bhaker’s confidence was evident as she had only three shots below 10 in the entire 13-round contest. The Korean team, unable to withstand the pressure, eventually lost 16-10.
Bhaker emphasized the importance of a steady mind in the high-speed, high-precision sport. “We don’t need to hurry, just relax and breathe. Shooting is all about nerves; your heart beats heavily, but you have to stay still,” she explained.
“We don’t need to be in a hurry, just relax and breath. Shooting is the kind of sport where it’s all about nerves, your heart beats heavily, we can’t move, we have to stand at one place,” she said.
Sarabjot, reflecting on his individual performance, said he aimed to forget past disappointments and focus on each new shot. “It was in my mind that I should just forget the last shot and focus on new one and give my best now. I can’t express what I feel when I see India India winning a medal.”
Bhaker will next compete in the 25m women’s pistol qualification on August 2, with strong prospects of making the finals. She has previously won gold in this event at the 2023 World Championships and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Her impressive list of achievements includes nine World Cup gold medals across various events. Sarabjot is also a gold medallist in the World Championship, World Cup, and Asian Games.
