India Celebrates First Medal at Paris Olympics 2024: Manu Bhaker Bags Bronze
As the Paris Olympics 2024 unfolds, India’s sporting prowess shines through with a brilliant start. Manu Bhaker, a 22-year-old shooting sensation, has clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event. This achievement marks the first medal for India in this year’s Games, making Bhaker the first Indian to secure a medal in Paris and the first female Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal. Let’s explore the journey of this incredible athlete and her path to victory.
Manu Bhaker: A Rising Star
Manu Bhaker’s journey to Olympic glory has been one of dedication and hard work. Known for her exceptional skill and composure, Bhaker maintained a top-three position throughout the competition. Heading into the final shot, she was just 0.1 points behind the second-place contender. Despite this narrow margin, Bhaker secured the bronze, showcasing her resilience and talent.
This victory not only adds to India’s medal tally but also ignites hope for surpassing the nation’s previous record of seven medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Bhaker’s performance has set a high standard and promises a bright future for Indian sports.
Qualification Highlights
Bhaker’s road to the final was a testament to her skill and determination. She finished third in the qualifications with a score of 580, a commendable feat given the challenging day for Indian shooters on July 27. Hungarian shooter Veronika Major topped the qualifications with a score of 582, while India’s Rhythm Sangwan finished 15th with a score of 573.
Bhaker started strong with 97 points in the first series, securing fourth position. She maintained her form with another 97 in the second series. Despite Sangwan slipping to 26th after a poor round, Bhaker moved up to second place after an excellent 98 in the third series. An 8 in the fifth series was her only significant misstep, but she still managed to secure her place in the final, where she truly shone.
Other Indian Performances
Manu Bhaker’s bronze isn’t the only highlight for Indian shooters in Paris. Ramita Jindal also made headlines by qualifying for the final in the women’s 10m air rifle event. Jindal secured fifth place in the qualifications with a score of 631.5, following in the footsteps of Bhaker. However, Elavenil Valarivan, another strong contender, narrowly missed out on the final, finishing 10th with a score of 630.7.
Ramita Jindal: Breaking Barriers
Ramita Jindal’s qualification is a historic moment for Indian shooting. She is the second Indian female shooter in 20 years, after Manu Bhaker, to reach the medal round. Moreover, she is the first Indian female rifle shooter to make it to the Olympic final since her coach, Suma Shirur, did in Athens 2004.
Jindal’s performance was nothing short of remarkable. She scored 631.5 and secured her spot in the final in the last series, finishing fifth in the rankings. Elavenil Valarivan, who led at the halfway mark, dropped significantly in the next three series and ultimately finished 10th.
Performance Breakdown
Ramita began the competition with impressive scores of 10.5 and 10.9, placing her third after the first two shots. Valarivan started with a shot of 10.6, putting her in 8th place but quickly climbed to 3rd as Ramita dropped in the rankings. Valarivan maintained consistency, with her lowest score in the first eight shots being 10.4, tying for 5th place.
Ramita ended her first round with a score of 104.3 and started the second series strong with 21 points after two shots. Valarivan finished her first series with 105.8 points, putting her in 4th place, and began the second series with a 10.4 score. Ramita steadily rose in the rankings, achieving a score of 10.9 with her 14th shot, edging closer to the top 10.
Valarivan’s first five shots of the second series earned her 53 points, solidifying her position in the top three. Ramita finished the second series with 106 points and started the third series strong, scoring 31.3 and moving to 6th place. Valarivan ended the second series with 106.1 points, securing the second spot.
Climactic Qualifiers
The third series started well for Valarivan, who moved to the top spot after hitting 10.6 three times with her first three shots. Ramita faced some challenges but managed to recover and stay within the top 8. However, the third series didn’t end well for either shooter. Ela scored 104.4, and Ramita managed 104.9, but both reentered the top 8 with strong starts to the fourth series.
In the fifth series, Ela remained in contention, but Ramita slipped out of the top 8 after a few subpar shots. Ela began the final series with a 10.4, followed by a 10.9. However, Ramita surpassed her compatriot as Ela gradually slipped out of contention, finishing in 10th place after her 59th shot scored only 9.8 points, ending with a total of 630.7 points. Ramita maintained her strong performance and concluded with 105.7 points in the final round.
Conclusion: A Promising Start
Manu Bhaker’s bronze medal has set an encouraging tone for India at the Paris Olympics 2024. Her journey, marked by exceptional skill and unwavering determination, is a source of inspiration for athletes everywhere. Alongside Bhaker, Ramita Jindal’s historic qualification for the final further highlights the strength and potential of Indian shooters on the global stage. As the Games progress, India aims to build on these successes and achieve even greater heights.
FAQs
- Who is Manu Bhaker?
- Manu Bhaker is a 22-year-old Indian shooter who secured a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the Paris Olympics 2024.
- What was significant about Bhaker’s bronze medal?
- Bhaker’s bronze medal is significant as it opens India’s medal tally at the Paris Olympics and makes her the first female Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal.
- How did Ramita Jindal perform at the Paris Olympics?
- Ramita Jindal qualified for the final in the women’s 10m air rifle event, making her the second Indian female shooter in 20 years to reach the medal round and the first since her coach, Suma Shirur, in 2004.
- What challenges did Bhaker face during the qualifications?
- Bhaker faced a challenging day during the qualifications but managed to secure third place with a score of 580, overcoming an 8 in the fifth series to reach the final.
- How did Elavenil Valarivan perform in the qualifiers?
- Elavenil Valarivan finished 10th in the qualifiers for the women’s 10m air rifle event, narrowly missing out on the final after a strong start but a drop in performance in the latter half.
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