Manu Bhaker Reflects On Her Olympic Journey And Ambition For Future Medals

March 7, 2025: Indian shooter Manu Bhaker, who made history at the Paris Olympics by securing two bronze medals, has been reflecting on how her life and career have changed since her remarkable achievement. During her appearance at the Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave in Kolkata, Bhaker opened up about her experience and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

“I know how difficult it is to finish fourth,” Bhaker told sports journalist Boria Majumdar. “Indian shooters are brilliant. We are right there at the top, and we are naturally good at it. We are very sharp mentally. We must just keep focus and keep going at it,” she added, acknowledging the intensity of competition at the highest level.

Her story is one of persistence and resilience. Bhaker, a young prodigy, fell short at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, but in Paris, she became the first Indian shooter to win two medals in a single edition. She began her Olympic journey with a historic bronze in the women’s individual 10m air pistol event, making her the first-ever woman shooter from India to win an Olympic medal. Following that, she teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to win a bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, India’s first-ever shooting team medal at the Olympics.

Despite the success, Bhaker’s journey wasn’t without its heartbreaks. She narrowly missed out on a third medal, finishing fourth in the women’s 25m pistol event. The fourth-place finish marked a near-historic achievement—she became the first Indian to secure two medals at the Olympics, but the grand treble eluded her.

Reflecting on her journey, Bhaker said, “We can make a lot of changes. We women can do a lot of things. It’s a matter of changing how we think about certain things. Talent is not a problem. We need belief. And we have it. There are a lot of people making a big difference. Going ahead, we can do better. It’s not about the bronze. We can hear the national anthem on the biggest stage.”

Bhaker’s Paris performance was a sweet redemption after a disappointing Tokyo 2021 campaign. The Tokyo Olympics were marred by a malfunction in her gun during the 10m air pistol qualification round, which caused her to lose valuable time. As a result, she missed out on qualifying for the final round, finishing 12th. In the 25m pistol event, she finished 15th, and in the mixed team event, she and her partner finished seventh.

Manu Bhaker’s incredible journey from Tokyo to Paris is a testament to her resilience and determination, and her reflections at the Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave inspire many young athletes to believe in their abilities and keep pushing forward.