List of Indian shooters to win medal at Olympics in shooting ft. Manu Bhaker
July 28, 2024. This date will always remain special to Manu Bhaker as she became the first Indian to win a medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. A day before, she had already scripted history when she qualified for the final of women's 10m air pistol. It was 20 years back that a woman shooter had qualified for the final - Suma Shirur.
Manu Bhaker's final was slated for 3:30 PM IST on July 28. Only two shooters from South Korea leapfrogged her. In fact, there was a moment when Indian fans thought the shooter will achieve a silver medal. However, shooting is a sport where even the smallest inch creates a difference and that's where Manu Bhaker had to rest her case.
But, her fight from the word go is laudable and will act as inspiration for the rest of the shooting contingent and athletes from other sports so that they can increase India's medal tally from seven in the Tokyo Olympics to something higher and greater.
Today, we will look at other Indian shooters who have bagged a medal at the Olympics.
#1 Abhinav Bindra
Abhinav Bindra created history at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when he won India's first-ever and till date the only gold medal in shooting. He participated in the 10m air rifle event and surpassed every obstacle to make India proud. Bindra is held in high esteem and is also considered a legend of the sport. Moreover, he also took part in the Paris Olympics torch relay a few days back.
#2 Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
If Abhinav Bindra is considered a legend, then Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is considered the torch-bearer for Indian shooters. His name might not be a common one to the modern generation of Indian fans but his contribution to Indian shooting is no less than that of Bindra. At the 2004 Athens Games, he became the first-ever Indian shooter to win a medal in shooting. Participating in the men's double trap, Rathore brought home a historic silver.
#3 Vijay Kumar
The 2012 London Olympics witnessed India win two medals in shooting. One of them was Vijay Kumar who took part in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event and won a silver medal to make the country proud.
#4 Gagan Narang
Four days prior to Vijay Kumar's success at the London Olympics, it was Gagan Narang who set the tone for a successful campaign for India. Participating in the men's 10m air rifle event, Narang secured India's first bronze medal in shooting. Notably, Narang is also the Chef-de-mission for Team India at the Paris Olympics.
#5 Manu Bhaker
Lastly, it is Manu Bhaker who has now won India's fifth shooting medal at the Olympics. Like Gagan Narang, she too won a bronze after narrowly missing out on the silver. Bhaker had a disappointing Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and this edition was more of a redemption for her. Her heroics from the qualification stages had shown hope of a medal early on in the showpiece event and that turned into reality this afternoon.