An old video of Manu Bhaker lauding the Khelo India initiative and TOPS during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi surfaced and went viral following her historic triumph in the Paris Olympics 2024 on 28th July. The 22-year-old has become the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal, marking a significant turning point in the country’s sporting history. She placed third and secured a bronze in the 10m air pistol competition.
In the video, she expressed, “I set a new national record and won gold at the inaugural Khelo India School Games in 2018. I made it into the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) core group. I’ve longed to don the Indian shirt and represent my nation ever since. I can see that many of the athletes on my squad come from Khelo Indian, who guided us all. Some of them are juniors, but others are teammates with me. TOPS has been assisting me since 2018, which is a big stride. I sincerely appreciate their help in successfully resolving even minor problems of athletes. TOPS and Khelo Inda have played a significant role in my life. I have reached here today due to their support.”
Credit must be given to Modi Govt for building world class infrastructure for our Athletes & Sportsmen in this country; our Olympians were given world class facilities. Now our boys & Girls are making us proud pic.twitter.com/FLSzSgrvnN https://t.co/T23cztFGky
— Mihir Jha (@MihirkJha) July 28, 2024
The 22-year-old shooter from Haryana’s Jhajjar claimed the bronze with a score of 221.7 while Korea’s Kim Yeji earned the silver with a total of 241.3 as her compatriot Jin Ye Oh took home the gold with a Games record of 243.2. India’s 12-year drought for an Olympic shooting medal came to an end with her victory, which also opened the nation’s medal account at the event in Paris. The last shooting medals that India won were from the 2012 London Olympics where rapid-fire pistol shooter Vijay Kumar and 10m air rifle marksman Gagan Narang, who is currently the chef de mission of the Paris contingent, secured silver and bronze, respectively.
