Manu Bhaker Biography Manu Bhaker is an Indian Olympian who competes in shooting. He was born on February 18, 2002. She was the first Indian woman shooter to earn a medal at any Olympics when she took home a bronze in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event at the 2025 Summer Olympics in Paris. It was also India’s first medal of those games. She had previously won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games when she was sixteen years old.[/2] She had already made history in 2018 by becoming the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup.
Manu Bhaker Biography
India has produced some of the best athletes in the world for sports, particularly the Olympics; nevertheless, these sportsmen have primarily been boxers and wrestlers from Haryana. It was only after attempting sports like boxing, tennis, and skating in school that Manu Bhaker began to have different tastes. Manu had a strong interest in sports and was skilled in the martial art of “thang ta,” where she competed nationally and won awards. As a fish finds its way to water, Bhaker gradually took up shooting, showing early indications that she was destined to become the sport’s ultimate pinnacle. When she won a historic bronze medal in the 10m air pistol at the Paris Olympics in 2025, the trip finally came to a spectacular end.
Manu Bhaker is an Indian Olympian who competes in shooting. She won a bronze medal at the 2025 Summer Olympics in Paris in the women’s 10 metre air pistol event, which was India’s first medal of those Olympics and made her the first woman shooter from India to win a medal at any Olympics.
Born: 18 February 2002 (age 22 years), Jhajjar
Height: 1.56 m
Awards: Arjuna Award for Shooting
Education: Lady Shri Ram College For Women–Delhi University (LSR–DU)
Parents: Ram Kishan Bhaker, Sumedha Bhaker
Early life
On February 18, 2002, Manu Bhaker was born in the Haryanan village of Goria, in the Jhajjar district. Ram Kishan Bhaker, her father, is employed by the Merchant Navy as a chief engineer. She excelled at boxing, tennis, skating, and Huyen langlon, a Manipuri martial art, till the age of 14. She also won medals in these sports in the national games.
She posted images of a tweet from Anil Vij, the Haryana sports minister, in 2019 in which he offered her a Rs. 2 crore cash prize on behalf of the state. Bhaker’s success at the Olympics has been powered by large investments and steadfast support. Her father made the initial, vital investment of INR 150,000 to launch her shooting career before she became a professional athlete. The Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), a nonprofit organization devoted to assisting Indian sportsmen in winning Olympic gold medals, strengthened this initial support even more.
Manu Bhaker is projected to have a net worth of about ₹12 crore by 2025, according to Wiki Biography. Her earnings from endorsements, contests, and other sources of revenue are included in this figure. Bhaker is now well-known both nationally and financially as one of India’s most talented athletes thanks to her shooting success.
Endorsements
Manu has secured lucrative endorsement deals with various brands. Her success on the shooting range has made her a sought-after face for advertisements and sponsorships.
Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ)
This non-profit organization played a crucial role in supporting Manu’s journey. OGQ provides financial assistance, training, and mentorship to Indian athletes aiming for Olympic gold medals. Manu’s association with OGQ has been instrumental in her success.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
As part of TOPS, Manu received ₹12,16,257 in preparation for the Olympics. This scheme by the Sports Authority of India aims to provide financial support and world-class training facilities to elite athletes.
Manu Bhaker’s journey from a small investment to Olympic glory serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes across the country. Here are some key highlights from her life and career:
Early Beginnings: Manu’s shooting journey began with her father’s initial investment of ₹150,000. Little did they know that this investment would yield substantial returns in terms of medals, endorsements, and financial stability.
Tokyo Setback and Paris Triumph: After facing disappointment during the Tokyo Olympics, Manu Bhaker bounced back with determination. Her victory in Paris broke a long dry spell for Indian shooting, and she became the fifth Indian shooter to medal at the Games. Her journey from Tokyo’s setback to Paris’s triumph is truly inspiring.
Reading the Bhagavad Gita: Manu shared that she drew strength from the Bhagavad Gita during her preparation. The wisdom from this ancient scripture fueled her resilience and determination.
Manu Bhaker’s financial stability, combined with her continued success, positions her as a shining star in Indian sports.
Bio Data
Full Name: Manu Bhaker
Born: 18 February 2002
Age: 21 Years
Birth Place: Goria, Jhajjar district, Haryana, India
Who Is Manu Bhaker: India’s Star Shooter Who Made History At Paris Olympics 2025
Haryana has talented athletes in boxing and wrestling. Manu Bhaker liked tennis, skating, and boxing in school. She was passionate about sports, excelling in martial arts and winning national medals. Bhaker naturally excelled in shooting, winning a bronze at Paris Olympics 2025. At 14, she switched to shooting after the 2016 Rio Olympics. Instantly loving it, she asked for a pistol to pursue it professionally. Her supportive father bought her one without hesitation, shaping her successful journey.
Manu Bhaker Achievements
Manu has been proudly waving the flag at events since she was young. In 2017, she made headlines by beating Heena Sidhu, a former top shooter. Her exceptional score of 242.3 set a new record in the 10m Air Pistol category. In 2018, she shined globally by breaking a junior world record at an ISSF World Cup. At just 16, she became India’s youngest gold medalist at an ISSF World Cup. Manu continued her success in the 10m Air Pistol category. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, she set a new Games record to win gold. She secured her spot in the Tokyo Olympics with a strong performance at the Munich ISSF World Cup in 2019. Manu also performed well in the New Delhi ISSF World Cup in 2021. Although a pistol issue prevented her from medaling in Tokyo, she aimed for success in Paris.
Shooting Career
Bhaker decided to pursue competitive shooting with ₹150,000 from her father. Her first taste of international success came when she won the silver medal in the 2017 Asian Junior Championships. In the Keralan National Games championship event, Bhaker stunned multiple World Cup medallist Heena Sidhu, shattering her previous record of 240.8 points with a score of 242.3. in the International Shooting Sport Federation’s 2018 World Cup venue in Guadalajara, Mexico. Women’s 10-meter air pistol champion Bhaker won the gold medal, defeating two-time champion Alejandra Zavala of Mexico. In the championship game, Bhaker prevailed 237.5 to 237.1 over Zavalaa. Bhaker, the gold medallist
Bhaker won her second gold medal of the World Cup in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol category. Manu Bhaker was paired with another citizen, Om Prakash Mitharval. The aforementioned Indian pair upset Sandra and Christian Reitz, scoring 476.1 points to their 475.2. With a score of 388/400, Bhaker advanced to the women’s 10m air pistol finals of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In the women’s 10m air pistol final round at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Manu Bhaker won the gold medal with a new record-breaking score of 240.9 points.
Personal Life
Date of Birth
18 February 2002
Age (as of 2025)
22 Years
Birthplace
Goria village, Jhajjar, Haryana
Zodiac sign
Aquarius
Nationality
Indian
Hometown
Jhajjar, Haryana
School
Universal Public Senior Secondary School, Jhajjar, Haryana
Religion
Hinduism
Caste
Jat
Hobbies
Doing needle-work, bungee-jumping, ice-skating
Controversies
• On 4 January 2019, she posted screenshots of Haryana sports minister Anil Vij’ tweet in which he had promised her cash award of ₹2 crore on behalf of the Haryana government. Later, the minister slammed her for creating controversy over prize money.
• After her exit from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Bhaker revealed that Jaspal Rana’s attitude towards her was not good. Reportedly, before the commencement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the rift between Manu Bhaker and Jaspal Rana had been going on for a long time, and Bhaker had also supported NRAI’s decision to relieve Rana from coaching duties ahead of Tokyo Olympics.
Family
Parents
Father– Ram Kishan Bhaker (a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy) Mother– Sumedha (a school teacher)
Siblings
Brother– Akhil (image in the Parents’ section) Sister– None
Physical Stats
Height (approx.)
in centimeters- 163 cm
in meters- 1.63 m
in feet inches- 5’ 4”
Eye Colour
Black
Hair Colour
Black
Manu Bhaker Biography, Medals, Net Worth and Records
