Resurgence of Indian Shooting: The Triumph at Paris Olympics
The shooting centre at the Paris Olympics in Chateauroux, 300kms south of Paris, has been referred to by an Indian shooting star as a place "from where you can see the end of the world." Sunday afternoon saw this metaphor realised when Manu Bhaker won a bronze medal, bringing back a sense of glory for Indian shooting. This victory represents the first time an Indian woman has won an Olympic shooting medal, highlighting the historic lack of Indian medals in three prior Olympic cycles.
Previously, Indian shooters had underperformed in Rio and Tokyo, leading to criticism and even mockery. There were doubts about the abilities of the young and new shooters, while the veterans were believed to be past their prime. Manu's intense and focused final challenge, however, has banished such skepticism, demonstrating early promise for Indian shooting in Paris.
Accompanying Manu's victory were positive performances by Arjun Babuta and Ramita Jindal. This makes three Olympic shooting finals for India, matching their previous best record set at London. This bronze win has undoubtedly rejuvenated the Indian contingent.
Furthermore, Manu's bronze medal also pays homage to the efforts of Indian women shooters who opened doors in Olympic shooting competitions: Anjali Bhagwat in Sydney 2000, Suma Shirur in Athens 2004, followed by male medallists Rajyavardhan Rathore, Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang, and Vijay Kumar. On the significant day, Manu represented many Indian women who have tried and came short at the Games before.
Behind Manu's victory, there is also satisfaction for her coach, Jaspal Rana, the once controversial but incredibly talented figure in Indian shooting. Rana has surely found euphoria in this win after Manu returned to him following their fallout before Tokyo 2020. So, as Manu's medal shines brightly, it also signifies the resurgence of Indian shooting and a tribute to the many women and coaches who've worked tirelessly to achieve this.
