India's Manu Bhaker drew inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita to achieve a historic podium finish in the women's 10m air pistol event in Paris on Sunday, July 28. The 22-year-old from Haryana scored 221.7 points in the final at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, securing a third-place finish behind two Korean shooters.

During the initial rounds, Bhaker struggled to stay in the top three. However, she made a remarkable comeback to clinch the bronze medal. After her podium finish, Bhaker shared that she found motivation in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, which helped her remain focused during the competition.

Expressing her delight, Bhaker emphasized that India deserves to win many more medals and she was honored to contribute. "I feel great. This medal was long overdue for India. I was just the medium to achieve it. India deserves more medals, and we are aiming for as many as possible. The entire team has worked hard, and for me, this win feels surreal. I put in a lot of effort and fought with all my energy until the last shot. I’m grateful to have won a bronze for India and hope for even better results next time," she said.

Reflecting on her mindset during the event, Bhaker mentioned her reliance on the Bhagavad Gita. "I read a lot of the Gita. Krishna tells Arjun to focus on his karma, not the outcome. That thought was running through my mind – just do your thing and let destiny take its course," Bhaker added.

This victory marks a significant comeback for Bhaker, who experienced a major setback at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when her equipment malfunctioned during the 10m air pistol qualification round. Despite the disappointment in Tokyo, Bhaker persevered and ultimately secured her place on the podium in Paris.

On the day of the event, Bhaker kept pace with the top two Korean shooters, ultimately finishing third and earning a well-deserved spot on the podium.