Manu Bhaker silences critics after viral air-gun pose at a fashion event

Indian Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker, celebrated for her historic performance at the Paris 2024 Games, found herself in the social media spotlight for a different reason. Known for her precision and composure in the shooting arena, Bhaker showcased her glamorous side as she walked the ramp at a fashion event in Delhi.

Sporting a sleek, sleeveless black body-fitted dress, she wowed the audience, but it was her signature air-gun pose that stirred both admiration and criticism.

Manu Bhaker had taken to her Instagram to post a video of her walk. The video was captioned:

"Locked, Loaded and Runway- ready with M&S Bringing in the #BigAutumnEnergy!"

As her air-gun pose went viral on social media, Manu Bhaker's runway appearance drew praise from her fans, while a section of netizens began trolling her, calling her “over-hyped” and accusing her of “drama.” Despite the mixed reactions, Bhaker remained unfazed, and with characteristic grace, she took to social media to respond to her critics.

While many appreciated her versatility, trolls labeled her appearance “drama” and called her “overrated.” Negative remarks like “Manu Bekaar” flooded her social media feed.

Rather than letting the trolls affect her, Bhaker addressed them head-on with a powerful message. Commenting on her own Instagram post, she wrote:

"Wow, thankyou guys for some good words. Also quite some haters I see."

"I just wanted to say, don’t limit yourself to anything, make your life big, your career shiny and your parents proud,,, haters will hate, lovers will love, you do you. Have your morale high and make your own way, in your own style. There’s no shortcut to things, but why do easy things when good gave you strength to do difficult. Cheers", she added.

---

Manu Bhaker - A showstopper on and off the field

Manu Bhaker turned heads at the fashion event as she confidently walked down the runway, embodying style and strength. Her air-gun pose during the event served as a subtle nod to her achievements at the Paris Olympics, where she secured two bronze medals.

She made history by becoming the first female Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event. Later, she added another bronze in the mixed 10m air pistol team event alongside Sarabjot Singh, marking her as the first Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals since India’s independence.