Bhubaneswar: Noted sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on Sunday created a sand sculpture at Odisha’s Puri beach to congratulate Manu for winning the Bronze medal in shooting at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Pattnaik created a 5ft high sand sculpture where he shows the sand art of Manu Bhaker and a Bronze medal with the message 'Jai Ho Manu' at Puri beach.

He has used about six tons of sand on it. Students of his sand art institution also joined hands with him to complete the sculpture.

“As an artist, we congratulate Manu ji through our sand art for winning the Bronze medal in shooting at the Paris Olympics,” stated Pattnaik.

Manu Bhaker opened India's accounts at the Paris Olympics with a bronze in the 10m air pistol event, becoming India's first woman shooter to win an Olympic medal.

The 22-year-old became the first Indian woman to win a medal in shooting at the Olympics.Bhaker brought India's first medal in the ongoing mega event as she won a bronze medal with a score of 221.7.

Earlier pleased with Manu Bhaker's remarkable tale of redemption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the pistol ace after her historic bronze medal-winning feat at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.

"Many, many congratulations to you, Manu. Since hearing the news of your win, the whole country is basking in the glory of your success," PM Modi said during his telephonic interaction with the 22-year-old shooter.

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid also congratulated Manu Bhaker for winning a bronze medal in the 10 Metre Women's Air Pistol event at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Speaking at an event at the India House, Rahul Dravid hailed Manu Bhaker for her top performance at the age of 22. The former India head coach added that Manu Bhaker has inspired many young people in India.

"...To come here and to be able to get over her past failures and win a bronze medal is a phenomenal achievement which takes years of sacrifice... The Olympics is the pinnacle of a lot of sports... To be able to put that performance at such a young age under so much pressure is commendable. I congratulate her. She has inspired so many young people back home in India," Dravid said.

Recently, Sudarsan Pattnaik had won the Golden Sand Master Award at the International Sand Sculpture Championship held in the St Petersburg city of Russia.

Pattnaik created a 12-foot deptiction of a Sand Ratha (chariot) carrying Lord Jagannath and his devotee Balaram Das, a 14th century poet. The Odisha artist received a gold medal for his sculpture.

(Agency inputs)