(From left): South Korea’s silver medallist Yeji Kim, gold medallist Ye Jin Oh and India’s bronze medallist Manu Bhaker celebrate with their respective flags. Reuters

They’re roommates and Olympic record-breakers but not rivals. Even in a shootout for the gold medal.

Two South Korean shooters with a special bond fought for gold without bitterness on Sunday at Paris Olympics ‘ shooting range. Oh Ye Jin took the gold and Kim Yeji the silver in women’s 10-meter air pistol - and both beat the previous record - but said it didn’t much matter who won.

“She is like my youngest sibling, and I always want to care for her and always be there for her. So, when she won the gold medal, I was extra happy,” said silver medalist Kim, who at 31 is 12 years older than her team-mate.

“I do not view her as my rival. This is a big stage, the Olympics, and we won the gold and silver. When we won these medals, we were so proud we are Koreans. I thought it did not matter who won the gold.”

Oh and Kim were the last two shooters left in a format that eliminates competitors one by one. “We could really help each other, so there was less pressure for us,” Oh said.

Oh took the gold with a score of 243.2 points and finished strongly to hold off Kim on 241.3. Eight of Oh’s last nine shots scored at least 10 points of a possible 10.9. They’ll compete again Monday in qualification for the mixed team air pistol event.

The bronze went to Manu Bhaker of India, who was eliminated on 221.7, just .1 off Kim’s score at the time, before the gold-medal shootout between the South Korean teammates. It was India’s first medal of any kind at the 2024 Paris Olympics and its first ever in women’s shooting.

The previous Olympic record for a women’s 10-meter air pistol final stood at 240.3, set by Russian shooter Vitalina Batsarashkina in Tokyo three years ago. Batsarashkina is not among the small number of Russians competing in Paris as Individual Neutral Athletes.

Agencies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called up Manu Bhaker over her historic bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and extended greetings for winning India’s first medal at the 2024 games.

“Hearty congratulations to you. I am feeling very proud after hearing the news. You missed the Silver medal by just 0.1 points but you have made all of us proud. You are the first Indian female shooter to win a medal for our country. Congratulations to you,” PM Modi told Bhaker during a phone call.

PM Modi added: “In the Tokyo Olympics, your rifle betrayed you but you have overcome all the shortcomings in this Olympics. I am very confident that you will do very well in the rest of the tournament.”

PM Modi also asked Bhaker about the sports facilities in Paris. “How are the facilities there? We have tried our best to provide all the sports facilities to our players,” PM Modi said.

Bhaker responded, saying, “Yes, sir facilities are very good.”

PM Modi then asked the Bhaker about her family. “Did you talk to your family?” PM Modi asked.

Bhaker responded, saying, “Not yet sir, I will talk to them once I get back to my room.”

Former India batter Sachin Tendulkar and Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra also congratulated Bhaker.

Tendulkar lauded the 22-year-old’s “immense strength & determination” to bring home glory for the country.

“Off the mark in the medal tally and on the mark with the shooting! Congratulations, @realmanubhaker, on bagging India’s first medal at the Paris Olympics. After overcoming the heartbreak in Tokyo, you have shown immense strength & determination to win a bronze at #Paris2024, and made India proud,” Tendulkar wrote on X.