Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh Make History with Olympic Medals

Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh won bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Olympics, making Bhaker the first Indian post-independence athlete to clinch two medals in a single edition. This achievement is a significant milestone for Indian women's sports and a redemption for Sarabjot.

A calm and composed Manu Bhaker made history by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games. She teamed up with an equally poised Sarabjot Singh to clinch the 10m air pistol mixed team bronze on Tuesday.

The Indian duo triumphed over Korea's Lee Wonoho and Oh Yeh Jin with a score of 16-10, securing India's second medal at Chateauroux's shooting range.

Bhaker, 22, had previously earned bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event at the same venue on Sunday, erasing the disappointing memories of her Tokyo 2020 debut. Before Bhaker, British-Indian Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in 1900, but in the pre-Independence era.

For Sarabjot, the win signified redemption after narrowly missing the men's 10m air pistol final. 'I'm feeling really proud and grateful for all the blessings,' Bhaker said after the match. The duo's composure turned the contest into a one-sided affair.

'We focused on controlling what we could and kept fighting till the end,' said Bhaker. Sarabjot, who hails from a farming background and felt immense pressure to perform, added, 'The game was tough, but I'm very happy.' Despite a rocky start, Bhaker's consistency inspired the team to a decisive 16-10 victory over Korea.

(With inputs from agencies.)