Ahead of the upcoming season, India’s double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker is full of confidence and keen to rekindle her competitive spirit after a period of inactivity following her success at the Paris Games.
Manu has her sights set on the Asian Games and the World Championships, which she feels will provide her the competitive advantage that helped her win two bronze medals at the 2024 Olympics, as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification cycle begins this year.
“We have the Asian Games (in Japan) and the World Championships coming up at the end of this year, so definitely we are looking forward to the two major competitions,” PTI quoted the 24-year-old pistol ace as saying on the sidelines of an event, marking 75 years of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), in New Delhi on Monday.
“So, the preparations which me and my coach we have… we sat down sometime back and we planned what are the (upcoming) competitions and what is the preparedness. I feel we have all the things sorted and hopefully we will do very well,” the Jhajjar shooter, who managed a 10m air pistol World Cup silver last year and a 25m pistol silver at the Asian Championships in New Delhi this year, but has had a rather quiet period since her win in Paris in 2024.
After being excluded from both the 2022 edition in Birmingham and the next Games in Glasgow, Manu was ecstatic to see shooting back on the schedule at the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India.
“My first breakthrough was in the Commonwealth Games that was in 2018 Australia (Gold Coast). It is sad (that it was not part of the CWG curriculum for two successive editions), but at the same time I am also looking forward to the 2030 Games. We will be hosting the Commonwealth Games so I am looking forward… I am sure India will do great,” she added.
Manu Bhaker also discussed her personal development, disclosing a more profound spiritual aspect that emerged during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
“Yes, I am a very spiritual person. That journey began around the time of the Olympics, and I’m really happy to be continuing on that path.”
Manu stated that there shouldn’t be any obstacles to expediting the process if the talent is prepared and the mentorship is appropriate, given that cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is emerging as one of the brightest young achievers and that calls are mounting for his expedited entry into the national squad.
“If the mentorship is right and the environment supports growth, age is just a number — talent has no timeline. It can be spotted at 6 or even 60. With the right guidance, I’m sure Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can be the next big star of Indian cricket,” said Manu Bhaker, who will next be seen at the ISSF World Cup Munich next month.
