Paris Olympics Update : Star Shooter Manu Bhaker Returns to Hero’s Welcome

Paris Olympics Update :  Manu Bhaker, the acclaimed pistol shooter who won two medals at the Tokyo Olympics, arrived back in India on Wednesday. Her Air India flight from Paris landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 9:20 AM, though it was delayed by an hour.

Warm Reception

Despite the rain, hundreds of fans and family members were at the airport early to welcome Bhaker and her coach, Jaspal Rana. They celebrated with flowers, garlands, and traditional music as Bhaker emerged from the airport. A strong police presence ensured crowd control during the festive reception.

#WATCH | Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker receives a grand welcome after she arrives at Delhi airport after her historic performance in #ParisOlympics2024 She won bronze medals in Women’s 10m Air Pistol & the 10m Air Pistol Mixed team event. pic.twitter.com/rcVgqkaxjP

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2024

Historic Achievements

At the Tokyo Olympics, the 22-year-old Bhaker earned bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh. She became only the second Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics, joining British-Indian athlete Norman Pritchard, who won two silvers in 1900.

Celebrations and Tributes

Bhaker’s parents, Ram Kishan and Sumedha, along with sports officials and fans from her home states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand, joined in the celebrations. Narayan Singh Rana, her coach’s father, expressed pride in Bhaker’s achievements and recognized the contributions of his son and Abhinav Bindra in Indian shooting.

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Future Plans

Bhaker will meet with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya later in the day. She is scheduled to return to Paris on Saturday for the closing ceremony on Sunday, where she will be one of India’s flag-bearers.