As it ended a 12-year drought for a shooting medal in the Olympics, a period akin to a prolonged drought in a fertile land, where the seeds of success struggled to germinate, India rejoiced as Bhaker’s accomplishment quenched the nation’s thirst.
And Manu Bhaker, who couldn’t stop smiling after becoming the first-ever woman to win a medal in shooting for India, looked utterly satisfied as she donned the coveted honour on the Olympics podium.
Watch:
The last time India tasted Olympic glory in shooting was in 2012 at the London Games, when Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang etched their names in the pages of Indian sporting history with their bronze medals.
The intervening years witnessed a barren spell, reminiscent of a fallow field lying dormant, awaiting the nurturing touch of a skilled farmer. Manu Bhaker’s achievement can be likened to the first sprouts of a new harvest, signalling the rejuvenation of Indian shooting on the grandest stage.
At just 22 years old, Manu Bhaker has already carved a niche for herself, much like a skilled sculptor meticulously chiselling away at a block of marble to reveal a masterpiece.
Her score of 221.7 in the final may not have been the highest, but it was a testament to her resilience and determination, akin to a sturdy oak tree weathering the storms and standing tall.