On August 4, Manu Bhaker made history by winning a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This milestone not only marked the first Olympic shooting medal for an Indian woman but also ended a 12-year drought in shooting medals for the country.
Bhaker’s stellar performance continued on Tuesday when she, along with Sarabjot Singh, clinched another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, defeating Korea with a score of 16-10.
Her achievements in Paris make Bhaker the first Indian woman to secure two Olympic medals in a single Games. She joins an exclusive group of Indian athletes—Norman Pritchard, Sushil Kumar, and PV Sindhu—who have won two Olympic medals. With her participation in the 25-metre air pistol event still ahead, the 22-year-old has a chance to become the first Indian to win three medals in a single Olympic edition.
Manu Bhaker’s early life and education
Manu Bhaker was born in the village of Goria, located in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. Her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, serves as a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy, while her mother, Sumedha Bhaker, who holds a master’s degree in Sanskrit, was previously the principal of the local school. Sumedha comes from an academic family in Kalali village, Charkhi Dadri district. Manu attended Universal Higher Senior Secondary School in Goria, which was established by her grandfather, Raj Karan.
During her school years, Bhaker engaged in various sports including tennis, skating, Manipuri martial art Thang-Ta, and boxing, earning numerous medals in national competitions. At the age of 14, she chose to dedicate herself to shooting. With an initial investment of Rs. 1,50,000 from her father, she embarked on a career in competitive shooting. Bhaker enjoys fresh fruits and yogurt raita, and for an occasional treat, she likes Churma.
Breakdown of Manu Bhaker’s Net Worth and Income Sources
As of 2024, Manu Bhaker’s net worth is estimated at Rs 12 crore, according to reports from Deccan Herald, Asianet News, and publicly available sources. Her wealth is primarily derived from her career as a shooter and lucrative endorsement deals. Bhaker’s brand endorsements include notable names like Performax and Nothing India. Female athletes in India typically earn between Rs 8 lakh and 30 lakh per endorsement, with Bhaker’s brand value pegged around Rs 1.5 crore, as reported by MoneyControl.
While Olympic medals themselves do not come with direct financial rewards from the International Olympic Committee, athletes often benefit from prize money and incentives provided by their home countries or state governments. Bhaker, who previously won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, may have received financial rewards for her past successes, although specific details are not available.
Increased Interest in Manu Bhaker
The excitement surrounding Bhaker’s recent victories has led to a surge in inquiries. Neerav Tomar, managing director of IOS Sports and Entertainment, the agency that manages Bhaker, revealed to MoneyControl, “We are experiencing a significant increase in queries. We had about a dozen inquiries by noon on July 30, which jumped to 18-20 by evening.”
