Paris Olympics 2024 closing ceremony: Ace shooter Manu Bhaker named India’s flag bearer

Ace shooter Manu Bhaker is named India’s flag bearer at the Paris Olympics 2024 closing ceremony on August 11. Manu created history in the French capital city by winning two medals in a single edition, becoming the first athlete from the country to achieve this feat. Although the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) named her the female flag bearer, they are yet to name the men’s flag bearer. 

Bhaker has been the standout performer this edition, winning two bronze medals in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol and Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol final (alongside Sarabjot Singh), respectively. 

Later, after qualifying for the 25m Pistol final, Manu finished fourth, losing the chance to win her third medal at the Paris Games 2024 by just two points.

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Meanwhile, Bhaker, 22, had a contrasting outing at her maiden Games in Tokyo three years ago, where she failed to bag a medal. During the 10m air pistol qualification round, Manu’s shooting gun malfunctioned during the game. Due to this, she missed out on completing her quota of shots, thus failing to qualify for the final. 

In Paris, three years later, Bhaker entered the record books by becoming the female shooter from the country to win an Olympic medal in shooting.

Manu in an elite company

With two medals in total in one edition, Manu is the first Indian to unlock this feat. Her twin bronze medals put her on the elite list of Indian athletes with two medals at the Summer Games. 

She is now only the third Indian after badminton star PV Sindhu (silver at Rio 2016 and bronze medal at Tokyo 2020) and former wrestler Sushil Kumar (bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics) to bag this achievement. 

However, with age on her side and considering the ocean of talent she possesses, Manu can get past the tally and create history.

The next Olympic Games will take place four years later in Los Angeles. 

(With inputs from agencies)