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Manu Bhaker etched her name in history on Sunday, becoming the first Indian woman shooter to secure a medal at the Olympic Games. The 22-year-old clinched a bronze medal in the women's 10m Air Pistol event, achieving a score of 221.7. Despite holding the second position until the penultimate shot, Bhaker narrowly missed out on the gold medal shoot-off after Korea's Kim Yeji delivered a remarkable 10.5 score, edging out Bhaker's 10.3. This hard-fought victory marked India's first medal at the ongoing Paris Olympic Games.
Congratulations and accolades poured in for Bhaker, recognizing her historic accomplishment. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in a tweet, expressed his pride and congratulated the Haryana shooter for making the nation proud. In an interview with ANI, Mandaviya highlighted the significant role of the government's 'Khelo India' program in Bhaker's preparation for the Paris Games, emphasizing its positive impact not only on Bhaker but on other athletes as well. He explained how the program, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has contributed to the development of sports infrastructure, increased participation in competitions, and facilitated the identification of talented athletes at school and college levels.
Mandaviya further elaborated on the program's comprehensive approach, detailing how talented athletes are provided with access to good coaches, intensive training, and financial support through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder their pursuit of excellence. He revealed that approximately Rs 2 Crores were invested in Bhaker's training, which included training stints in Germany and Switzerland. The program also enabled her to hire the coach of her choice, providing the necessary support to help her achieve peak performance. Mandaviya concluded by emphasizing the government's commitment to providing a supportive ecosystem for all athletes, aiming to facilitate their best performance in both national and international competitions. He expressed confidence that Indian athletes will continue to shine at the Paris Olympics.