India's top shooter Manu Bhaker has credited her coach, Jaspal Rana, for her historic achievements at the Paris Olympics, sharing the secret behind her record-breaking performance. After facing disappointment at the Tokyo Olympics due to a pistol malfunction, Bhaker made a remarkable comeback in Paris. She became the first Indian woman in two decades to reach the final of an individual shooting event at the Olympics since Suma Shirur in 2004, and later secured a bronze medal in the women's air pistol event, opening India's medal count.
On Tuesday, Bhaker and her partner Sarabjot Singh defeated South Korea's Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the 10m air pistol mixed team event's bronze medal match, earning Bhaker her second medal. This achievement made her the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in the same Olympic event. Reflecting on her success, Bhaker emphasized the importance of her coach's strategic planning and the support from the federation.
"I have three events in the Olympics, and I strive to perform my best in each one. During training, every athlete invests a lot of effort, so I ensure that my efforts are evenly distributed across all events," Bhaker explained. "I attribute a significant part of my success to my coach, Jaspal sir, for his meticulous planning and the inclusive policies of the federation, which have been crucial for my dual event participation."
Bhaker and Sarabjot narrowly missed out on a gold or silver medal, losing by a single point. Bhaker's quest for a third Olympic medal will continue in August when she competes in the 25m pistol event.
