Last month, shooter Manu Bhaker made history as the first athlete from Independent India to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games. The 22-year-old achieved two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, one in the women’s 10-metre air pistol event and another in the 10-metre air pistol mixed team event.

Despite her remarkable success, Manu recently faced criticism on social media for carrying her Olympic medals to public events. Some users mocked her for frequently bringing her bronze medals to various functions. However, Manu firmly responded to the trolls.

When asked about the online comments, she confidently told the 'Times of India', "I will, yeah! Why will I not?"

Manu explained that she brings her medals because the event organisers often request her to. 

“Everyone wants to see the medal, which is why I carry it in case someone asks. They even request, ‘Please bring your medal along,’ and when I do, many pictures are taken at these events,” the double Olympic medalist shared.

She also added that she has no plans to stop bringing her medals to events, especially since it's often requested by organisers and attendees.

Thoughts on Indian fans

Manu also talked about the nature of Indian audiences, describing them as both loving and critical. 

“They are very loving but also impulsive. You can’t imagine how much they can love you, but when things go wrong, some people tend to criticize. You have to be careful about what you do,” she said.

The young shooter also offered advice to the youth, urging them to stay away from social media, as she believes it adds little value to their lives.

“One piece of advice I’d like to give, especially to the youth, is that there is nothing on social media. Save your time. Spend it with your family, play sports, and read about other people’s journeys,” she advised.