"I got really nervous" – Manu Bhaker heartbroken after missing out on a medal in women's 25m air pistol event at Paris Olympics 2024
Manu Bhaker was crestfallen after failing to win a medal in the 25m Air Pistol event in the Paris Olympics 2024. On Saturday, August 3, Manu had the chance to become the first Indian to win three medals in a single edition of the Olympics. But she missed out after finishing fourth in her third and final event on the quadrennial event.
Manu faltered in the shoot-off series against Hungary’s Veronika Major, which led to her downfall. The young Indian shooter admitted that she had butterflies in her stomach. But the 22-year-old took the defeat in her stride and pledged to come back stronger.
“Oh yes, it was very (heartbreaking) I was very nervous in the finals, although I was trying on each shot, but things did not turn out to be very good for me. But well, there is always a next time. I am looking forward already, looking forward to the next one,” Manu told Jio Cinema while speaking to Gaurav Kalra.
“I got really nervous about it, but again, I was trying my best to keep calm and to just try and do my best. But that was not enough,” Manu added.
Manu Bhaker's impressive performance in Paris Olympics 2024
Before the Paris Olympics 2024, no Indian female shooter had won a medal in the quadrennial event. However, Manu Bhaker made history after she won bronze in the 10m Air Pistol event. She joined the likes of Abhinav Bindra, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, and Gagan Narang among the Indians with Olympic medals in shooting.
Thereafter, Manu won the 10m Air Pistol mixed team event along with Sarabjot Singh. Subsequently, she became only the second Indian after Norman Pritchard to win two medals in a single Olympics edition.
She is also only the second Indian woman after PV Sindhu to win multiple Olympic medals.