The Olympic journey that began in Tokyo's shadows and ended in Parisian light
August in India has long been a month filled with pride - a time to reflect on stories of perseverance that have shaped our sporting heritage. This month, as we revisit defining moments of the nation's spirit, Manu Bhaker's story stands out. Beginning with disappointment in Tokyo 2021 and rising to triumph in Paris 2024, her journey embodies perseverance, adaptation, and the rewriting of history.
In Tokyo 2020, a 19-year-old Manu arrived as one of India's brightest medal hopes in shooting. But destiny had a cruel twist in store. During the women's 10m air pistol qualification round, her pistol malfunctioned. Shots misfired, seconds slipped away, and so did her place in the finals. She left the range empty-handed.
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That was just the first blow - the mixed team event with Saurabh Chaudhary also ended in disappointment despite leading the first qualifying stage.
For many, such a debut would have been the end. For Manu, it marked a new beginning-though she didn’t know it yet.
The months after Tokyo were bleak. In 2023, she almost gave up shooting altogether. It had become a job, a routine, not a passion. She thought about studying abroad, seeking a future away from the pressures of the range.
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But then came a voice from her past - coach Jaspal Rana - urging her to stay, to fight, to remember why she had begun. His belief reignited hers, marking the turning point in their reunion.
Manu's career had always been characterised by precocity. In just her second year as a shooter, she won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, breaking a new Games record.
She became the youngest Indian to claim an ISSF World Cup gold, added a Youth Olympic title that same year, and excelled in mixed team events with almost effortless composure. By 2024, she had accumulated over 15 international gold medals, but the one she truly desired still remained out of reach - an Olympic medal.
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This transformation carried over into training. Rana restructured her regimen from scratch. Every session simulated Olympic match conditions - same timing, same pressure, same mental drills. When Manu stepped onto the range in Paris, she wasn’t just competing; she was reliving months of preparation.
The women's 10m air pistol event was her first shot at glory in Paris. Precision, control, and poise defined her performance. She scored just high enough to stay in contention, then surged in the final series to claim bronze. In doing so, she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.
Days later, she returned with Sarabjot Singh for the mixed 10m air pistol event. Together, they held their nerve through the eliminations, securing another bronze - making Manu the first Indian athlete since independence to win two medals at a single Olympics.
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India's 79 years in sports history are marked by moments when athletes overcame setbacks to inspire a nation. Manu Bhaker's Paris campaign exemplifies this - a reminder that failure is never final, and comebacks can be historic. Her medals went beyond podium finishes; they proved that belief, once reignited, can illuminate the world.
