"Fourth place is not a very good place" - Disappointed Manu Bhaker after 25m pistol final at Paris Olympics
The last seven days were perhaps the best time in Manu Bhaker's life. Heartbroken at the Tokyo Olympics three years back, the 22-year-old shooter was determined and a more refined version of herself at the Paris Olympics 2024.
At first she created history by becoming India's first-ever female shooter to secure a medal at the Olympic Games. Prior to that, she also broke a 20-year qualification drought, as the last time a female shooter qualified to the finals of the 10m air pistol event at the Olympics was Suma Shirur at the Athens Games 2004.
After salvaging a historic bronze medal in the individual event, Manu Bhaker turned her sight at the team event. Partnering with Sarabjot Singh, Manu once again made the nation proud by bringing home a bronze medal. She was just a baby step away from history. On Saturday, she took part in the 25m pistol finals but despite a strong start, she ended fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium finish.
Post the final, Manu Bhaker told the broadcasters:
"If you put it thay way, yes I am proud that I got two medal but right now I'm not very happy. Fourth place is not a very good place though."
Manu was definitely disappointed as she couldn't fetch India one more medal at the Paris Olympics. However, she has now become one of the three athletes who have two medals at the Olympic Games - PV Sindhu and Sushil Kumar. This was about the post independence era. Prior to India's independence, Norman Pritchard who is British Indian had two medals.
Results from the 25m air pistol final at the Paris Olympics
Manu Bhaker fought till the last moment for a podium finish but was outwitted by Hungary's Veronika Major in the shoot-off for the top-three. Major ultimately went on to win the bronze medal.
Camille Jedrzejewski, who hails from France finished second and bagged the silver medal for the host nation. On the other hand, South Korea's Yang Jiin won the gold medal. Notably, Jiin registered a score of 37, just one short of equaling the Olympic record.