Manu Bhaker's Historic Feat: Post-Independence Olympic Double Medallist

Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker arrived in India after winning two medals at the Paris Games, becoming the first Indian to achieve this in the post-Independence era. She was greeted by fans and family at the airport. Bhaker will return to Paris to be the female flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony.

Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker returned home on Wednesday following her historic achievement at the Paris Games, where she became the first Indian in the post-Independence era to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.

The Air India flight carrying Bhaker landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 9:20am, an hour later than scheduled. Despite the morning drizzle, around 100 people gathered early at the airport to welcome her, including Bhaker's parents, sports enthusiasts, and officials from neighboring states, as well as her personal coach Jaspal Rana and his father.

Fans celebrated Bhaker's achievement with songs, dances, and banners depicting Bhaker and Rana. Bhaker is set to return to Paris on Saturday to serve as the female flag bearer for the Indian contingent at the Olympics Closing Ceremony on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Bhaker clinched a bronze medal in both the women's 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team event, where she partnered with Sarabjot Singh, marking a historic moment for India in Olympic history.

Bhaker's accomplishment follows that of British-Indian athlete Norman Pritchard, who won two silver medals in the 1900 Olympics, an era before India's Independence.