In the world of precision shooting, few stories inspire like that of Manu Bhaker. The young Indian sharpshooter from Haryana captured global attention with her steely nerves and unyielding focus. Born on February 18, 2002, in Jhajjar, Manu was named after the childhood moniker of Rani of Jhansi, reflecting her parents’ dream of raising a fearless daughter. Her father, Ram Kishan Bhakar, a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy, and mother Sumedha instilled in her the spirit of resilience from day one.
Manu’s early years were a whirlwind of sports. She dabbled in tennis, boxing, skating, and even clinched national medals in the martial art Than Ta. But it was shooting that truly captured her heart. At just 14, fresh off the 2016 Rio Olympics buzz, she turned to her father and demanded a pistol. Trusting her determination, Ram Kishan made it happen within a week. That bold move kickstarted a journey that would redefine Indian shooting.
Her breakthrough came swiftly in 2017 at the National Shooting Championship, where she shattered records with a 242.3 score in the 10m air pistol final, outgunning Olympian Heena Sidhu. The same year, she snagged silver at the Asian Junior Championships. By 16, Manu became India’s youngest gold medalist at the ISSF World Cup, partnering with Om Prakash Mitharval in mixed doubles.
The accolades piled up. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, she set a new record to claim gold in women’s 10m air pistol. She followed it with more golds and bronzes in junior World Cups. Tokyo 2020 brought heartbreak—finishes of 12th, 7th, and 15th—but Manu bounced back fiercer. Golds in ISSF World Cups, silver at the World Championships, and gold at the 2023 Asian Games marked her resurgence.
Paris 2024 was her redemption. Manu clinched bronze in women’s 10m air pistol and mixed team air pistol, becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics. Her journey earned her the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2024 and Arjuna Award in 2020. Today, Manu Bhaker stands as a beacon of perseverance, proving that with grit and a pistol in hand, dreams hit the bullseye.