Manu Bhaker’s dream of a grand treble at the Tokyo Olympics went up in smoke after a heart-stopping tie-shoot for bronze in the women’s 25m sports pistol event. The young Indian shooter, who had shown immense promise earlier in the competition, fell just short of securing a medal, losing to Hungarian Veronika Major by the narrowest of margins.
Bhaker, who briefly led the field of eight shooters in the final, couldn’t sustain her early momentum and ultimately finished in fourth place. Her close call brought back memories of other Indian shooters who have experienced the agony of finishing just outside the medal bracket in the Olympics, like Joydeep Karmakar in the men’s 50m rifle prone in London 2012, Abhinav Bindra in the men’s 10m air rifle in Rio 2016, and Arjun Babuta in the 10m air rifle at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite the disappointment, Bhaker’s performance showcased her talent and determination, reminding everyone of her potential for future success. As Coach Samresh Jung pointed out in an exclusive interview with PTI, the Tokyo setback will only make Manu stronger. With her sights firmly set on the Paris Olympics, she is undoubtedly motivated to return with even greater determination and aim for the top spot on the podium.
