On July 28, Bhaker clinched a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, making her the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal. She continued her success by securing another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh two days later.
In an interview with Sportstar, Bhaker expressed her long-standing admiration for Sindhu and revealed an endearing anecdote.
“I have always known the greats in Indian sports history. In my time, I have always known (PV) Sindhu and Neeraj (Chopra). I have always appreciated them for their hard work. There was this one time when I made a fake profile to defend Sindhu. Some haters commented, and I got so triggered that I made a fake account to defend her,” Bhaker shared.
Upon learning about Bhaker’s gesture, Sindhu responded with warmth and encouragement.
“Haha, what a sweetheart!!! Welcome to the 2 Olympic medal club Manu!! Way to go,” Sindhu wrote on X.
Bhaker’s dual triumphs in Paris highlight her capacity to excel under pressure, marking a significant turnaround from her challenging Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where a pistol malfunction led to a disappointing performance.
Her recent achievements have solidified her place in Indian sports history and exemplified her resilience and determination. Bhaker’s journey continues as she remains in contention for another medal in the 25m sports pistol event, with the qualification round set for August 2.