Manu Bhaker and coach Jaspal Rana back at the Karni Singh ranges | Exclusive

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It was a long gap, lasting almost six months. On Sunday, it was a familiar sight as Manu Bhaker and Jaspal Rana got back together at the Karni Singh Ranges in Tughlakabad, New Delhi.

Manu has been training from November, after her prescribed 100-day break had ended. The break was necessary as she shot too much and needed to take her mind off. From a shooter she became a celebrity. The return to shooting was always on the cards. For onlookers at the Karni Singh Ranges, the duo together was a good sight. After all, Manu had been training alone since November but she was in touch with her coach.

When Manu had won the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award recently, she spoke of her training in full steam. It includes the physical aspect of working on her fitness, gym and special exercises specific to shooting. She has a set of new 'grips' for her pistols as well and has been shooting in the 10-metre air pistol and 25-metre sports pistol hall in the Karni Singh Ranges.

Indeed, after the massive highs at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Manu became a celebrity. She won two bronze medals and finished fourth in sports pistol in Chateauroux, 350km away from Paris, which was the shooting venue for the Olympics. To have won two bronze medals and finished fourth in sports pistol, Manu had soared. On return to India, she needed a long break. It was a planned decision to miss the National shooting championship in New Delhi in December as well as ongoing National Games in Uttrarakhand.

"We had planned to get back stronger on basics, technique and focus on the NRAI selection trials later this month. I am glad that Manu has been working on her game and fitness," said Jaspal Rana in an exclusive interview. "It is important Manu prepares in right earnest. She will get back again but is aware how much of effort will go into it. Manu had taken a mandatory break and is now back with the same energy. She shot in the 25-metre hall in the morning on Sunday, went home for lunch and returned again to the ranges. As the 10-metre hall is under renovation, we will get back to work on it on Monday morning in the 10-metre finals hall," pointed out Jaspal Rana.

The coach is not worried about the future at all. He and Manu are training together again at the ranges after a near six-month break. "We have been in touch all along but to be together and hit the ground running is important. Yes, Manu will put in her best efforts as India slips into the next cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. There are trials and competitions this year as well. Most important, we have to prepare for the Asian Games next year in Nagoya (Japan)," stressed Dronacharya Jaspal Rana.

Just to jog the readers' memory, Jaspal Rana and Manu Bhaker made history in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics as she blazed the Olympic Selection Trials in New Delhi and Bhopal. It is to Manu's credit she likes the demanding coaching methods of her coach. It is a tough schedule he prescribes but the end results have been top class. "There has to be effort and Manu gave her best in the trials last year before the team selection for the Paris Olympics. I am sure she will find the same passion and shoot. She will need to show the same dedication and commitment. She can do it," added Rana.