New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh broke an array of records at the 2024 Olympic Games when they became the first Indians to win a team medal in shooting with a bronze in the 10 m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at Chateauroux, near Paris.

Following their brilliant display of calmness, composure, and resilience, the entire country is congratulating the duo for what can only be dubbed as a historic day for India.

“I don’t understand shooting. The calmness on Manu and Sarabjot’s faces is scary. I’d have run around and tear up the whole venue celebrating my medal! True role models for all of us. #OlympicGames #shooting #ManuBhakar #Paris2024,” posted Tejaswin Shankar, India’s High Jump athlete, on ‘X’.

“Superb performance @realmanubhaker and #SarabjotSingh! India’s second medal!,” read the post by Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir.

“Second medal for India! @realmanubhaker and @Sarabjotsingh30 ~ you both were clinical today at the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team bronze medal match! Your resilience throughout the event was incredible. Cherish this moment – it brings immense pride to our nation! @Media_SAI || @WeAreTeamIndia || #Paris2024 || #Olympics,” read the post by BCCI general secretary Jay Shah.

Team India defeated the South Korean duo of Lee Won Ho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the bronze medal playoff in the Chateauroux.

Despite the Indians taking an early 8-2 lead, South Korea fought back into the match and put their opponents on their toes but were not able to put them down.

Manu Bhaker’s meteoric rise has seen her become one of the most loved athletes in the country, as she became the first Indian to win two individual medals in the same Olympics and the only one to achieve this feat for the country post-independence.

“History maker Manu Bhaker! You’ve amazed us once again. The entire nation is proud of you. Keep shining bright!,” said Olympic medallist boxer, Vijender Singh.

“Well done @realmanubhaker & Sarbjot . proud of you,” read the post by Harbhajan Singh.

Manu is just the third athlete in the country’s history to have won two individual medals at the Games (wrestler Sushil Kumar and shuttler PV Sindhu) and has the chance to further adding to the tally when she will return to action on August 2 in the qualification round of the women’s 25m pistol event.

“After not securing any medals in the last two Olympics, Indian shooters have made a remarkable comeback. Manu Bhaker now stands as the first-ever Indian to win two medals in consecutive Olympic match,” said the former Indian women hockey captain Rampal

“Meanwhile, Sarabjot has achieved a personal milestone following his individual match heartbreak. Truly inspiring performances all around!” she added.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) After Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot won the historic bronze on Tuesday at the Paris Olympics, 2008 gold medallist Abhinav Bindra congratulated the young duo for winning India’s first shooting team event medal in Summer Games history.

“Manu & Sarabjot: You’ve done what no Indian shooting pair has done before. India’s first Olympic shooting team medal. Savour this moment, you’ve earned it! Proud,” Bindra posted on X.

Manu and Sarabjot defeated the South Korean duo of Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the bronze medal playoff in the Chateauroux.

After the bronze medal win, Manu became the first Indian athlete to win two medals in the single edition of the Olympics. Her partner in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, Sarabjot bagged his first Olympic medal.

Overall, Manu became the third Indian — after wrestler Sushil Kumar and shuttler PV Sindhu — to win more than one individual medal in the Olympics.

Notably, Bindra was the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics when he won the 10m Air Rifle event in Beijing 2008.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Prime Minister, Narendra Modi congratulated Indian shooters, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh for clinching bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at Paris Olympics 2024.

Prime Minister on ‘X’ wrote, “Our shooters continue to make us proud! Congratulations to @realmanubhaker and Sarabjot Singh for winning the Bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the #Olympics . Both of them have shown great skills and teamwork. India is incredibly delighted.”

Meanwhile, Manu Bhaker also etched her name into the annals of Indian sports history, becoming the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at a single Olympic Games. This achievement follows her earlier success, where she secured a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event, marking a significant milestone for Indian shooting.

–IANS

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Chateauroux, July 30 (IANS) Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh secured a bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The duo showcased resilience and composure, overcoming a slow start to defeat South Korea 16-10 in a thrilling match on Tuesday.

The contest began with the Indian pair on the back foot, losing the first series. However, Bhaker and Singh quickly regained their footing, displaying exceptional skill and teamwork. They took control by the third series, leading 4-2, and extended their advantage to 8-2 after five series. South Korea mounted a comeback attempt, narrowing the gap to 6-10 by the eighth series, but Bhaker and Singh remained unflinching. The Indian shooters sealed the victory with a decisive 16-10 margin, securing India’s second medal of the Games.

After the match, an elated Bhaker expressed her gratitude, saying, “I feel really proud and have a lot of gratitude. Thank you so much for all the blessings and love. We can only control what is in our hands. I had a chat with my father regarding this before coming here and decided we should keep fighting till the last shot,” said to the broadcasters.

Sarabjot Singh, celebrating his first Olympic medal, echoed her sentiments. “It feels great. The game was tough, but we were glad we could do it. There was a lot of pressure, but the crowd was great,” he said, acknowledging the support that spurred them on. The pair had entered the bronze medal match after finishing third in the qualifying round with a combined score of 580.

This bronze is a historic personal achievement for Bhaker, who became the first Indian to win multiple medals at a single Olympic Games. She had previously opened India’s medal account in Paris with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event.

–IANS

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Chateauroux, July 30 (IANS) Shooter Manu Bhaker said she is feeling a lot of gratitude for achieving the feat of becoming first Indian athlete to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympics on Tuesday.

Manu and Sarabjot Singh clinched the bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Team event after registering a 16-10 victory over South Korea following 13 shots in the bronze medal playoff.

“I feel really proud. I feel a lot of gratitude to able to achieve this feat. It is just blessings. Thank you so much for all the blessings and love,” said Manu after the taking the historic bronze.

This was also Manu’s and India’s second medal at the Paris Games. She also has the chance to win a third medal when the 22-year-old features in the women’s 25m Pistol event.

In the bronze medal playoff, the South Korean team of Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin took the first series. The Indian duo, however, bounced back to lead 8-2. The contest took an exciting turn in the latter half as Korea managed to bounce back but India never looked like conceding their lead and sealed the victory.

“Actually, we can’t control anything; we can just try to do our best. Before coming here also, me and my partner were like, okay let’s try our best and however it goes, we will accept, and we will just keep fighting till the last shot,” said Manu.

Overall, Manu became the third Indian — after wrestler Sushil Kumar and shuttler PV Sindhu — to win more than one individual medal in the Olympics.

Sarabjot Singh, who bagged his first Olympic medal, is now the sixth Indian shooter to win a medal at the Summer Games.

“There was lot of pressure and the crowd amazing , So, I am really happy,” said Sarabjot.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore — Athens 2004, Abhinav Bindra — Beijing 2008, Vijay Kumar — London 2012, Gagan Narang — London 2012, Manu Bhaker – Paris 2024 are the other shooters to have won medals at the Olympics.

–IANS

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