Meet Sarabjot Singh, Who Failed To Be Football Player Now Wins Bronze In Paris Olympics

Paris Olympics 2024: Sarabjot Singh redeemed himself in the 10m pistol mixed event by winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. The formidable pair of Sarabjot Singh and Manu Bhaker secured victory. Sarabjot's victory came just days after a heart-wrenching debut at the Games, where he narrowly missed a final berth in the men's 10m pistol event. Despite the initial setback, the young shooter from Haryana brings home India’s second medal in the Paris Olympics 2024.

Introduction to shooting

Sarabjot Singh hails from Dheen village in Ambala, Haryana, Sarabjot is the son of a farmer, Jatinder Singh, and a homemaker, Hardeep Kaur. His early education took place at DAV College in Chandigarh, where he was introduced to shooting. The Olympic medalist's fascination with the sport began during his childhood when he observed kids at a summer camp wielding air guns at a makeshift range. At just 13 years old, Sarabjot initially dreamed of becoming a footballer. However, the sight of children aiming at targets with pistols ignited a passion that would change his life.

🇮🇳🔥 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀! A historic achievement for Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh as they win India's first-ever team medal in shooting at the Olympics.

🧐 Here's a look at India's shooting medallists in the Olympics over the years.

👉 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄… pic.twitter.com/Vf2yp4r2vH

— India at Paris 2024 Olympics (@sportwalkmedia) July 30, 2024

Pursuing a dream against odds

In 2014, Sarabjot expressed his desire to pursue shooting to his father. Initially hesitant due to the sport's expenses, his father eventually supported his son's passion. Sarabjot's dedication paid off when he won a gold medal at the Junior World Championship in Suhl in 2019.

Sarabjot and Manu create history

On July 30, 2024, Sarabjot Singh and Manu Bhaker made history by securing India's second medal at the Paris Olympics and earned a bronze in the 10m Air Pistol mixed team event at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre. The Indian duo led 4-2 after the third series and extended their lead to 8-2 after the fifth. Despite a strong challenge from South Korea, who narrowed the gap to 10-6 after the eighth series, Sarabjot and Manu maintained their composure and secured a comfortable victory.

This moment! 🥹🇮🇳

Manu Bhaker & Sarabjot Singh have given us India’s first Olympic shooting team medal. 🫶🏻 Catch more Olympic action LIVE on #Sports18 and stream FREE on #JioCinema! 🎯#OlympicsOnJioCinema #OlympicsOnSports18 #JioCinemaSports #Cheer4Bharat #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/bgYq3z4rTW

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) July 30, 2024

This achievement was Sarabjot's first Olympic medal. Meanwhile, Manu Bhaker became the first Indian to win multiple medals at a single Olympic Games, having already secured a bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event.

Heartbreak in 10m air pistol qualification 

Sarabjot's path to the bronze was not without its challenges. Earlier in the Games, he faced disappointment at the shooting centre. Competing in the Men's 10m air pistol qualification, Sarabjot finished ninth among 33 athletes with a score of 577-16x, narrowly missing the eighth spot to Germany's Robin Walter by a tiny margin. The disappointment was palpable as he struggled to speak to the host broadcaster, revealing that despite his best efforts, he had an off day. However, Sarabjot vowed to learn from the experience and work on his technique.