Paris Olympics: Analyzing Manu Bhaker’s Final Scoresheet That Saw Her Clinch Historic Bronze Medal

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In a dramatic and intense final at the 10m air pistol women's event, Manu Bhaker won India's first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, earning the bronze. Her precise shooting and calm demeanour under pressure were crucial in this closely contested event.

Bhaker narrowly missed the silver by a mere 0.1 points, solidifying her place in history as the first Indian woman to win a shooting medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Follow our elaborated Paris Olympics Live coverage

First Competition Stage

Bhaker made a strong start in the initial stage, scoring 10.6, 10.2, 9.5, 10.5, and 9.6, totaling 50.4 points. This placed her in second, just behind Korea’s Ye Jin who led with 52.2 points.

Second Competition Stage

Bhaker maintained her form in the second competition stage, posting scores of 10.1, 10.3, 9.6, 9.6, and 10.3. Her total score of 100.3 points kept her in third position as the elimination rounds began.

The Elimination Rounds Begin

During the elimination rounds, Bhaker demonstrated consistent shooting:

First Elimination (Shots 11-12): Bhaker scored 10.5 and 10.4, moving her to second place as Hungary’s Veronika Major exited with a score of 114.0.
Total: 121.2 points

Second Elimination (Shots 13-14): Despite scoring 9.8 and 9.8, Bhaker stayed in third as Turkey’s Sevval Ilayda Tarhan was eliminated with 135.6 points.
Total: 140.8 points

Third Elimination (Shots 15-16): Bhaker’s scores of 9.9 and 10.2 kept her in third while China’s Ranxin, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, was eliminated in sixth place.
Total: 160.9 points

Fourth Elimination (Shots 17-18): Scoring 10.1 and 10.2, Bhaker continued strong as China’s Xue Li exited in fifth place.
Total: 181.2 points

Fifth Elimination (Shots 19-20): Bhaker’s 10.1 and 10.0 confirmed her place on the podium as Vietnam’s Thu Vinh Trinh was eliminated in fourth with 198.6 points.
Total: 201.3 points

Crucial Analysis

Bhaker’s impressive performance in the first and second competitive rounds was crucial to her success. By shooting consistently well and placing herself as high as the second spot early on, she avoided the immediate pressure of elimination. This strategic advantage allowed her to focus on maintaining her high scores and staying ahead of the competition.

The Final Shots and Bronze Medal Win

The final elimination round saw Bhaker in a close contest for the silver:

Penultimate Shots (21-22): Bhaker scored 10.1 and 10.3, totaling 221.7 points and keeping her in third place just behind Korea’s Ye Jin and Yeji.

Final Shots (23-24): Bhaker’s scores of 10.1 and 10.3 were just edged out by Yeji’s 10.5, leaving Bhaker with the bronze by a margin of 0.1 points. Ye Jin took the gold and Yeji secured the silver.

Despite the narrow miss for the silver, Bhaker’s consistent performance earned her the bronze, marking a historic achievement for India.