We live in a country where real-life heroes don’t get much media attention but the filmy heroes are always in the spotlight for all the infamous reasons. Why do we fail to appreciate the heroes who extend their valuable contributions to the country? Do you know Manu Chaudhary Bhakar?
If you know her, it’s well and good. If you don’t know, then it’s the right time to know about her. Manu Chaudhary is known for her razor-sharp shooting skills. She is one of the very few athletes to write a success story in a very short period of time. She scripted history when she won 9 gold medals for India yet there is no proper media coverage.
It’s not easy to clinch 9 medals but the young Manu Chaudhary made it look so. With tenacity, intensity, grit and determination, she came through with flying colours and made the country so proud by showcasing her mettle in shooting.
Manu Bhaker is a prolific sports shooter by trait. She represented the country with tons of pride at the 2018 ISSF World Cup and successfully clinched 2 gold medals. She created history when she became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup.
She showcased her mettle and won gold medal in women’s 10 m air pistol event at 2018 Commonwealth Games in her debut Commonwealth Games appearance. This is how the 16-year-old talented Manu announced her arrival in style.
Manu Bhaker was born in Goria village near Jhajjar in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. Manu’s father, identified as Ram Kishan Bhaker, plies his trade as a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy. Until 14, Manu Bhaker thrived in other sports like Huyen langlon (Manipuri martial art) as well as boxing, tennis and skating, winning medals at the national games in these events. This sums up the essential Manu Bhaker for you!
Ram Kishan Bhaker was always supportive and backed his daughter. He invested Rs.150000 and helped Manu Bhaker to take up shooting as a profession. She initially touched the pinnacle of success at the international level when she clinched the silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships.
However, in the 2017 National games held at Kerala, Bhaker stamped her authority in the competitive sport as she won nine gold medals. She also defeated multiple World Cup medalist Heena Sidhu and broke Sidhu’s record of 240.8 points, garnering a flamboyant 242.3 points in the final.
In the following International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup held at Guadalajara, Mexico. Bhaker once again won the gold medal in the Women’s 10 meter air pistol, comprehensively defeating Mexico’s Alejandra Zavala who is also a two-time champion. Bhaker managed to score 237.5 in the final match against Zavalaa, who scored 237.1. By clinching the gold medal at just 16, Bhaker proved that age is just a number where she became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the World Cup.
Bhaker grew from strength to strength and made sure that she won medals for India. She bagged her second gold medal at the World Cup in the 10 meter Air Pistol mixed team event. She was partnered with fellow countrymen Om Prakash Mitharval. In the game, the pair shot a score of 476.1 points, beating Sandra Reitz and Christian Reitz who managed to get 475.2.
Manu Bhaker secured 388/400 points at 2018 Commonwealth Games in women’s 10m air pistol qualifying round and qualified for the finals of the competition. In the final round of the women’s 10m air pistol competition during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, she successfully won the gold medal with setting a new Commonwealth Games record of 240.9 points.
Please don’t wait for the media to share this news. Kindly share this news yourself and spread this information to inspire other youths.