"Wait of 11 years, 11 months & 25 days", "Manu-scripting history" - Best fan reaction to India's Paris 2024 Olympics Day 2 campaign
The Indian contingent opened its account on Day 2 of the 2024 Paris Olympics, courtesy of Manu Bhaker’s bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol event. The youngster showed nerves to steel to eke out a medal after her Tokyo heartbreak.
Bhaker also became the first Indian female shooter to land on the podium at the Olympics and fans were understandably ecstatic.
Many took to social media to come up with unique posts to celebrate the major achievement. An ‘X’ user used worldplay to congratulate Bhaker, who he said had “Manu-scripted” history by bagging the medal.
"India's first medal at Olympics 2024, First ever Indian woman to get a medal in shooting, Bhaker is Manu-scripting history! Congratulations india," a fan wrote.
Another ‘X’ user, meanwhile, noted down the number of days since India’s last shooting event medal at the Olympics.
India has traditionally done well in shooting, but has failed to win any medal in the last two Olympics at Tokyo and Rio. The last medal had come in the form of a bronze for Gagang Narang and a silver for Vijay Kumar a the 2012 London Olympics.
"#Shooting, #Paris2034 The wait of 11 years, 11 months & 25 days of shooting medal draught is over! Manu Bhaker...," the post read.
Another fan drew parallels with Abhinav Bindra, taking note of how equipment failure had hit both — Bindra in the form of broken floor at the 2008 Olympics and Bhaker in Tokyo when her gun malfunctioned — before dubbing Bhaker’s showing an “incredible redemption story."
"Abhinav Bindra had to deal with a broken floor in Athens 2004, making him finish 8th in the final - he came back to win gold in Beijing, Manu Bhaker had a pistol malfunctioning in Tokyo - she has won herself and India a memorable medal today Incredible redemption stories, both," a fan wrote.
"Chin up" - Support pours from fans as India witness a mixed Day 2 at Paris 2024 Olympics
Besides Manu Bhaker, performances from other athletes also drew an array of reactions from the fans.
PV Sindhu’s opening win in badminton, for starters, renewed the hope of a third consecutive Olympic medal — a feat never achieved by any other Indian. The star shuttler is now sitting atop her Group M and fans were impressed by her on Day 2 of the Paris Olympics:
"PV Sindhu won the first group match, The dream for the 3rd consecutive Olympic medal is on," a user wrote.
Balraj Panwar, the only Indian rower at the Paris Olympics, also caught the eye of many as he made the Men’s Singles Sculls quarterfinal, with one particular fan thanking the Indian Army for 'discovering' talents like him.
"Cannot thank the Indian Army enough for discovering Balraj Panwar for the nation, Can't wait for the QF tomorrow...," a fan wrote.
Support also poured in for India's No. 1 tennis player Sumit Nagal, who fought hard against Corentin Moutet and a noisy French crowd only to lose his men's singles round of 64 match in three sets.
"Chin up Sumit Nagal, you gave your best against all odds! A iwin would’ve taught some lesson to vocal & booing French crowd, Nevertheless great fight champ! It was so so close!" a user posted on 'X'.