NEW DELHI: Manu Bhaker, India’s star pistol shooter, arrived home on Wednesday after making history at the Paris Games, where she became the first Indian in the post-Independence era to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.
Bhaker’s Air India flight from Paris landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, where around 100 people gathered to welcome her despite the early morning drizzle.
Bhaker’s flight (AI 142) arrived around 9:20 am, delayed by an hour. Her parents, Ram Kishan and Sumedha, were among the crowd, along with sports enthusiasts, officials from neighboring states, and her personal coach Jaspal Rana. The airport atmosphere was electric, with people beating drums, singing, dancing, and holding banners featuring Bhaker and Rana’s photos.
WATCH:
Bhaker’s Air India flight from Paris landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, where around 100 people gathered to welcome her despite the early morning drizzle.
Bhaker’s flight (AI 142) arrived around 9:20 am, delayed by an hour. Her parents, Ram Kishan and Sumedha, were among the crowd, along with sports enthusiasts, officials from neighboring states, and her personal coach Jaspal Rana. The airport atmosphere was electric, with people beating drums, singing, dancing, and holding banners featuring Bhaker and Rana’s photos.
WATCH:
Manu Bhaker, 22, won bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team event with teammate Sarabjot Singh. These victories are significant as she became the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympics since British-Indian athlete Norman Pritchard‘s two silver medals in the 1900 Olympics. Pritchard’s achievements were in the pre-Independence era.
Jaspal Rana and Manu Bhaker (Photo credit – iOS)
The shooter’s triumphant return home will be brief, as she is set to return to Paris on Saturday. Bhaker will serve as the female flag bearer for the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony on Sunday.