Paris Olympics 2024: Abhinav Bindra Lauds Manu Bhaker For Timely Patch Up With Coach Jaspal Rana

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Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual Olympic gold medalist, opened up on the dynamics within the Indian shooting contingent and their performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Indian shooting contingent produced its best-ever show at the Summer Games by winning three bronze medals where Air Pistol Shooter Manu Bhaker emerged as the best athlete from the nation at the quadrennial sporting extravaganza in Paris.

A Historic Performance by Manu Bhaker in Paris 2024

In an interview with JioCinema, Bindra discussed various aspects of the shooters' performances, including the much-talked-about fallout and eventual reconciliation between Manu Bhaker and her former coach, Jaspal Rana.

Reflecting on Manu Bhaker's performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Bindra was full of praise for the young shooter, who made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to earn two podium finishes in a single edition of the Olympics post-Independence. Manu clinched bronze medals in both the women's 10m air pistol and the mixed 10m air pistol events, the latter alongside her teammate Sarabjot Singh.

Bindra highlighted Manu's resilience and her ability to bounce back from setbacks. "It was a fantastic Olympics for her; she's made the country proud. She's taught everyone about resilience, how to sail well and bounce back from disappointment.

"The greatest moment of the Olympics for me was when she finished qualification on day one, and I saw a picture of hers without a smile on her face. That told me she was going to do well. I'm extremely proud of her. She has a bright future ahead. She's 22, hungry, and wants to go on, and I'm sure come LA, she'll do even better," Bindra remarked.

Manu Bhaker's Fall Out With Jaspal Rana In Tokyo 2020

One of the more significant narratives surrounding Manu Bhaker in recent years has been her fallout with coach Jaspal Rana ahead of Tokyo 2020. The tensions between the two had been well-documented, with the relationship reportedly strained due to differing perspectives on training and competition strategies. However, Bindra was quick to credit both Manu and Jaspal for their eventual reconciliation.

"Talking about Jaspal (Rana), he was my hero when I started shooting after I saw him compete at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He's a treasure trove of knowledge, a hard taskmaster, and I think that's a good thing.

"I credit Manu for having patched up with Jaspal after a difficult couple of years, which is normal in a coach-athlete relationship. Athletes are sensitive people, and when we're under pressure, that sensitivity heightens. Credit to both of them for having forged this relationship back, and the results are here for everybody to see," Bindra said.

Bindra emphasised the importance of athletes being receptive to different points of view, even when they come from coaches or mentors they might not fully agree with.

"Sometimes, appreciating a different point of view from people who take you out of your comfort zone is valuable. It is important to not rubbish that advice and soak it in. Be a good listener, and you could get some advice or a nugget of information that will end up being the most valuable lesson you'll ever learn," Bindra added.

Swapnil Kusale: A Testament to Self-Awareness

Bindra also spoke about Swapnil Kusale, who won a bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions event. Bindra wasn't surprised by Swapnil's success, citing the shooter's strategic approach and self-awareness as key factors.

"I had the opportunity to meet him before the event, and he was extremely focused. He was very strategic in his preparation. Swapnil decided not to attend the opening ceremony to conserve his energy for the competition. That's the difference between coming back with a medal or not," Bindra explained.

The Bigger Picture: India's Shooting Contingent at Paris 2024

While discussing the overall performance of the Indian shooting contingent at Paris 2024, Bindra expressed pride in the achievements of the athletes. India secured a total of six medals at the Olympics, three of which came from shooting. Bindra emphasized that while outcomes are important, it's equally crucial to recognize the progress India has made as a sporting nation.

"The whole country should be very proud of our shooting athletes and all other athletes in general, who have performed at a high level. There have been misses, but everyone's fought well.

"Outcomes are important, but more than that, it's about seeing how you've improved as a nation in terms of performance. We'd like to see more conversions to medals, but I think we have a lot to be proud of, winning three medals in shooting at Paris 2024," Bindra signed off.