Sarabjot Singh and Manu Bhaker Bring Home Bronze for India at Paris Olympics

In an exciting twist at the Paris Olympics, Indian shooters Sarabjot Singh and Manu Bhaker clinched a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team shooting event.

This achievement marks a significant milestone as it’s the first-ever Olympic medal in a mixed team event for India. With this win, Manu Bhaker has also become the first athlete from independent India to secure two medals in a single Olympic Games.

The duo displayed their skills at the National Shooting Center in Chateauroux, overcoming the South Korean pair of Oh Ye Jin and Wonho Lee with a score of 16-10 in the bronze medal match. Oh Ye Jin made headlines earlier by winning gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event.

Manu kicked things off strong, landing a solid 10.2 on her first shot. Although Sarabjot had a bit of a rough start with an 8.6, he quickly bounced back with impressive shots of 10.5, 10.4, and 10, helping India secure the next six points.

Manu continued her streak, scoring at least 10 on her first seven shots. But the Korean team, led by Oh Ye Jin, fought back to narrow the score to 14-10. Despite the pressure, a final 10.2 shot from Sarabjot confirmed the bronze for India.

Manu reflected on the match, saying, “It was neck to neck with each shot, like my first bronze. But the last shot was Sarabjot’s, so big up to him.”

The Indian pair managed to hit 19 out of their 26 shots with scores of 10 or more, showcasing their prowess against the South Korean team who managed only 12.

Before this bronze match, Manu and Sarabjot finished third in the qualifying round, setting them up to compete for the bronze medal. It’s worth noting that Serbia emerged victorious in the gold medal match against Turkiye.

This bronze medal marks the second shooting medal for India at the Paris Games, continuing the country’s strong legacy in the sport, particularly as India had a dry spell at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.

Well-known shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore previously made history with India’s first Olympic medal in shooting back in 2004 and Abhinav Bindra won India’s only gold in the sport during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Also, look out for Manu Bhaker as she gears up to compete in the women’s 25m pistol event later this week, which will be another chance for her to shine on the Olympic stage.