NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday commended the remarkable achievements of Manu Bhaker during a meeting on Thursday following her successful campaign at the Paris Olympics, where she secured two bronze medals in pistol shooting.
The minister expressed that the entire nation is overjoyed and proud of her "incredible performances" at the prestigious event.
Along with his words of appreciation, Singh posted a picture on X, formerly known as Twitter, capturing the moment of their encounter.
"Delighted to meet India's ace shooter, Manu Bhaker, who scripted history at the Paris Olympics by wining two Bronze medals for the country. Every Indian is elated by her incredible performances. Best wishes for her future endeavours," Singh wrote on the social media platform.
Bhaker, the 22-year-old shooting sensation, made a triumphant return to her homeland on Wednesday following her remarkable accomplishments at the ongoing Paris Games. Bhaker etched her name in the annals of Indian sports history by becoming the first athlete from the nation to secure two medals in a single Olympics since the country gained independence.
After a brief stay at home, Bhaker is set to embark on her journey back to Paris on Saturday. She has been bestowed with the honor of being the female flag bearer for the Indian contingent during the Closing Ceremony of the Paris Olympics, scheduled to take place on Sunday.
Bhaker's historic feat includes clinching bronze medals in both the women's 10m air pistol individual event and the 10m air pistol mixed team competition, where she partnered with Sarabjot Singh. Their outstanding performance together has rewritten the Olympic record books for India.
It is worth noting that prior to Bhaker's achievement, Norman Pritchard, a British-Indian athlete, had won two silver medals in the 200m sprint and 200m hurdles at the 1900 Olympics. However, Pritchard's accomplishment occurred during the pre-Independence era, making Bhaker's double medal haul all the more significant for the nation.
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