Manu Bhaker: India's Rising Star in Women's Pistol Shooting

Manu Bhaker, a rising star in women's pistol shooting, is making waves in the sport. Born in Jhajjar, Haryana, Bhaker's passion for sports began early, with her participating in tennis, skating, boxing, and thang ta. However, it was at the age of 14 that she discovered her true calling in shooting.

Within a week of trying the sport, Bhaker asked her father to purchase her a sports shooting pistol. Her determination and talent quickly became evident, and in 2017, she made headlines by defeating Olympian Heena Sidhu at the national shooting championships. Bhaker's record-breaking score of 242.3 in the 10m Air Pistol final set the stage for her meteoric rise.

Bhaker's international debut came in 2018 at the Asian Games, where she set a game's record score of 593 in the qualification round of the 25m Air pistol event. Despite her impressive performance, she narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing 6th in the final.

Undeterred, Bhaker went on to secure the top position in the women's 10m air pistol event at the 2018 Youth Olympics. At the age of 16, she became the first Indian shooter and the first female athlete from India to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games.

Bhaker's success continued in 2021, when she qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. She finished 12th in the women's 10m air pistol event, but her performance showcased her potential and determination.

Now, Bhaker is setting her sights on the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she will compete in the women's 25m pistol event. Coached by pistol shooter Jaspal Rana, Bhaker is confident in her abilities and is working hard to achieve her Olympic dream.

Tags: #ManuBhaker, #PistolShooting, #Olympics, #IndianShooter, #WomenInSports