Paris 2024: Manu Bhaker returns home with 2 bronze medals. The 22 year old shooter made a new record for India, with winning 2 titles in the same season of Olympics.
Manu secured bronze medals in both the women’s 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team event with partner Sarabjot Singh. Her wins are historic, making her the first Indian athlete to earn two medals in a single Olympics since British-Indian Norman Pritchard won two silvers in the 1900 Olympics, a feat achieved before India gained independence.
Manu Bhaker returns home with great pomp and show
Manu Bhaker’s Air India flight from Paris landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where about 100 people turned out to greet her despite the early morning drizzle. Flight AI 142, delayed by an hour, arrived around 9:20 am.
Bhaker’s parents, Ram Kishan and Sumedha, joined the crowd, which included sports fans, officials from nearby states, and her coach Jaspal Rana. The airport buzzed with excitement as people drummed, sang, danced, and held banners with Bhaker and Rana’s images.
Bhaker’s victorious homecoming will be short-lived, as she is scheduled to return to Paris on Saturday. She will act as the female flag bearer for India at the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony on Sunday.
Manu Bhaker will be India’s flag bearer in the closing ceremony
Manu Bhaker made history as the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal, ending a 12-year drought for the country in shooting. The last Indian shooters to medal were Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang at the 2012 London Games.
After her individual success, Bhaker teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to secure bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. She became the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at a single Olympic Games.
Manu Bhaker has been selected as India’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024. An IOA official told PTI, “Yes, Manu has been chosen to be the flag bearer. She has done exceptionally well and deserves the honour.”
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