Manu Bhaker Exclusive: ‘Can't wait to go back home and eat Aloo parathas' - Double Olympic-medallist reveals what food she will savour upon her arrival from Paris

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The Paris 2024 Olympics have been a whirlwind of emotions for Indian shooter Manu Bhaker. With the world watching, Manu clinched two bronze medals in the Women's 10m Air Pistol and the 10m Air Pistol Team event alongside Sarabjot Singh.

Yet, amidst the triumphs and celebrations, there's a side of Manu's journey that is both relatable and endearing. Paris Olympics 2024 Special Site

As 22-year-old Manu stood on the Olympic podium, the pride and joy of her accomplishments were evident. But beneath the surface of her athletic prowess and steely determination lies a young woman with simple joys and desires.

Manu Bhaker To Savour Home Made Food Upon Return

Olympic athletes often undergo rigorous training regimens and adhere to strict dietary restrictions to maintain peak performance. For Manu, this meant subsisting on a diet that prioritized nutrition over flavour.

"I can't wait to get home to eat aloo parathas," she admitted with a smile after her win speaking to myKhel. "I have been only living on yoghurt with dry fruits since I came here. I think by the time I reach India I will lose my appetite. They are giving me some boiled broccoli, cabbage, and other steamed stuff, but just days more, then I get to be home and eat aloo parathas," she chuckled.

Many Indian athletes in Paris have made some arrangements to meet their dietary requirements at the Games Village in Paris. MyKhel reported how Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen's family rented an apartment in Paris to ensure their son gets quality food.

Manu's journey to Paris has been filled with challenges and triumphs. Born in the small village of Goria in Haryana, India, Manu's pivot to shooting came in 2016, inspired by the Rio Olympics. Within a year, she was making waves in the shooting community, winning nine gold medals and setting a national record at the 2017 National Shooting Championships.

Her international breakthrough came in 2018 with a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup in Mexico, followed by another gold at the Commonwealth Games and the Youth Olympics.

Eyeing Her 3rd Medal in Paris

In Paris, Manu's hard work and resilience paid off. She made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 and the first Indian female shooter to medal at the Olympics.

Her bronze in the Women's 10m Air Pistol event was a testament to her dedication. Two days later, she added another bronze to her collection in the 10m Air Pistol Team event.

"Great, great awesome. My performance was very good, I got two medals, but I missed the higher rank by 0.1. Let's see what awaits me, till then just grind and hustle," added Manu.

Manu's story is far from over. With another event on the horizon, she remains focused and driven. "I feel great after winning and creating history, but I have another event to go so the game is still on, I will tell you how I feel" she concluded, her eyes set firmly on the future.

Manu Bhaker will begin her pursuit for a historic third individual Olympic gold at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday, competing in the women's 25m air pistol qualification event. The top eight shooters from Friday's qualifying for 25m air pistol will compete in the final on Saturday (August 3).