Elated over her success in winning two medals in Paris Olympics, Professional Olympic pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, who returned home on Wednesday said that her eyes were already set on Los Angeles Olympics to be held in 2028 and would continue to work hard to give consistently good results in future. Manu was given a grand welcome on her arrival home by hundreds of fans and her family. She would return to Paris on Saturday and will be India’s flag bearer in Olympic’s closing ceremony on Sunday.
Manu creates history
Manu Bhaker created Olympic history for the country by winning bronze medals in the women’s 10 meter air pistol event and 10 meter air pistol mixed team event along with Sarabjot Singh. Manu became the first Indian to win two medals in the same Olympics after independence. She also came close to winning the third bronze in 25 meter pistol but missed it and finished fourth.
Pre-Independence double medal feat
At the age of just 22, Bhaker has achieved the distinction of becoming the first Indian since British-Indian athlete Norman Pritchard, who won two silver medals in the 200m sprint and 200m hurdles at the 1900 Olympics, to achieve the double medal feat.
‘I will start preparing after the break’
Manu stated that after the end of Paris Olympics, the next Olympics is on my mind and the journey for it has already begun. Now after Paris, the journey to Los Angeles Olympics has started and after a short break, I will start preparing for it. I hope that my performance will be better than this time. In the next three months, many people would want to meet me and then I will spend time with my family. I will take some rest and work on my fitness and then start shooting training, she added.
Manu Bhaker meets CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi
Olympic pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, who made history by winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, met Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at latter’s residence in the national capital.
The Congress party shared a photograph of Bhaker with Sonia Gandhi, celebrating her remarkable achievement of securing bronze in both the women’s 10m air pistol event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event, where she partnered with Sarabjot Singh.
Congress party posted on X “Today Manu Bhaker, who brought glory to the country by winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, met CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi”.