How Manu Bhaker found her groove—and Haryana became a crucible for women athletes

It seemed fitting that India’s first medal in Paris was won by a woman. It seemed fitting too that the second medal in Paris was also won by a woman. Of course, it seemed entirely fitting that both were picked up by the same woman: Manu Bhaker, the first athlete in independent India to win two medals in a single Olympics. (In 1900, Norman Pritchard won two silvers for 200m sprint and 200m hurdles.)

Manu’s double bronze haul, in the 10m women’s Air Pistol women’s event and in the 10m Air Pistol mixed event with Sarabjot Singh, is being hailed as a redemption journey, a reference to her Tokyo debut where she and her malfunctioning pistol became the image of India’s failure—and the target of relentless trolls.