Manu Bhaker (born 18 February 2002) is an Indian sport shooter who competes in pistol events. At the 2024 Paris Olympics she won bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting and the first Indian athlete since independence to win two medals at a single Games. She first became famous at 16, when she won gold at the ISSF World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in the same year.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Manu Bhaker |
| Born | 18 February 2002, Goria, Jhajjar, Haryana, India |
| Age | 24 |
| Sport | Shooting (10m air pistol, 25m pistol) |
| Coach | Jaspal Rana |
| Education | Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi |
| Olympic medals | 2 bronze (Paris 2024) |
| Honours | Arjuna Award (2020), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2025) |
Early Life
Bhaker was born in the village of Goria in Jhajjar district, Haryana. Her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, is a marine engineer, and her mother, Sumedha, is a school principal. As a child she tried many sports, including boxing, tennis, skating and the martial art thang-ta, winning medals at national level. In 2016, at 14, she picked up a pistol at her school’s shooting range and showed an instant talent.
Career
Within a year of starting, Bhaker won the national championships, beating Olympians. In March 2018, aged 16, she won two gold medals at the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, becoming the youngest Indian to win a World Cup gold. A month later she won the 10m air pistol gold at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, and in October she won gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.
Bhaker went to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 as one of India’s main hopes, but a malfunction in her pistol during the 10m air pistol qualification cost her valuable time, and she failed to reach any final. She later said she was so disappointed that she thought about quitting. She returned to work with her former coach, the Olympian Jaspal Rana, and won team gold in the 25m pistol at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
On 28 July 2024 Bhaker won bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol, ending India’s 12-year wait for an Olympic shooting medal. Two days later she won a second bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh, becoming the first Indian since independence to win two medals at one Olympics. She narrowly missed a third medal, finishing fourth in the 25m pistol. She was India’s joint flag-bearer at the closing ceremony.
Personal Life
Bhaker studied political science at Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi. She enjoys playing the violin and horse riding. In January 2025 she received India’s highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, from President Droupadi Murmu.
Awards and Honours
Major Medals
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Manu Bhaker born?
Manu Bhaker was born on 18 February 2002 in Goria, Jhajjar, Haryana, India and is 24 years old.
What honours has Manu Bhaker received?
Arjuna Award (2020), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2025).
Featured image: Manu Bhaker shows her two Paris Olympic bronze medals with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, New Delhi, August 2024. Photo by Prime Minister’s Office, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
