Manu Bhaker Already Focussing On LA Olympics After Creating History in Paris 2024, Explains Coach Jaspal Rana

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Manu Bhaker, the shooting sensation from India, has already created history by winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the individual and mixed team events in the 10m Air Pistol shooting.

The 22-year-old qualified for the final round in the individual 25m air pistol precision shoot after finishing second in the qualifying round with a score of 590. The Jhajjar girl, in her last event at Châteauroux Shooting Range, did well but finished fourth, thus missing on a medal by a whisker.

Manu's coach, Jaspal Rana, spoke to Tracking Paris, expressing confidence in her ability to deliver another stellar performance. He noted that she is in excellent shape and has been handling the pressure well.

"Every day is a challenge and every day is a struggle, and she's coping up pretty well. I just hope that she delivers her best, and that's what she has been doing," Rana said.

In the 25m air pistol event, the precision shoot is a crucial component, requiring a calm and focused mindset. Rana emphasized the mental preparation involved in building a shooter for such events. "Everybody knows about technique, but when you talk of building a shooter for three events, it's about cultivating a champion mindset," he explained.

Rana highlighted that Manu's score of 590 in the qualifying round was impressive and close to setting an Olympic record. "She shot really well in rapid fire too. We are never satisfied, but the important part is making it to the final. The final can be anything."

When asked about his expectations from Manu in terms of medals and performance, Rana refrained from making predictions. "I don't predict. My way of working is almost the same. I just want to deliver my best score, and if you deliver your best score, I'm sure you will be somewhere up there," he stated.

Despite the pressures and expectations following her two bronze medals, Rana assured that Manu is in good shape and handling the stress well. "There's a lot of stress after two bronze medals, but she's doing fine. She just needs to focus on delivering her best in the final."

As for the future, Rana is already looking ahead to the next Olympics in Los Angeles, encouraging Manu to shift her focus and aim for even higher achievements.

"It doesn't matter what kind of reception we get in India; celebrations are temporary. What's important is that she has delivered her score and won medals for the country. Now, she should prepare for the next Olympics and aim to change the colour of the medals she's won in Paris."

Rana's journey as Manu's coach has also been noteworthy, especially after the Tokyo 2020 aftermath. He made a comeback due to the support of IOA president PT Usha.

Reflecting on his journey, Rana said, "I've been unemployed for a long time. After Tokyo, I was the only one thrown out from the coaching program, and I never got an answer. I don't blame anyone, but you need some kind of support from somewhere."