Just this past Sunday, she opened India's medal account by winning a bronze in the women's 10-meter air pistol shooting. Now, she has another chance to win a medal for India.
On Tuesday, Manu Bhaker will team up with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed team event of the 10-meter air pistol, competing for the bronze medal. Their opponents will be the Korean duo of Oh Ye Jin and Lee Wonho.
It’s essential to know a bit about Manu’s competitors. Oh Ye Jin, part of the Korean team, won the gold medal in the women's 10-meter air pistol event on Sunday. She was in such great form that she set a new Olympic record.
However, in the mixed team event, Manu and Sarabjot managed to edge out the Korean pair, who finished fourth, just one point behind.
Manu and Sarabjot are determined to maintain this slight lead and give it their all.
If Manu can keep her nerves in check on Tuesday, she might create history again. On July 28, she became the first Indian woman to win a shooting medal in the Olympics. She could now become the only Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics.
Although wrestler Sushil Kumar has won two Olympic medals, he achieved this feat in two different Olympics. He won bronze in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver in the 2012 London Olympics.
BBC Emerging Player of the Year 2020: Manu Bhaker
In 2021, Manu Bhaker won the "BBC Emerging Player of the Year 2020" award. Upon receiving the honor, she expressed her ambition to win more medals for India.
She said, "I’ve learned that you are giving me the Lifetime Achievement Award along with the Emerging Indian Sportswoman Award, which makes me very happy."
Manu added, 'For the Lifetime Achievement Award, one needs to perform well for a long time and achieve a lot. The Emerging Award goes to those who have the potential to do well and win more medals for the country.'
The 'BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year' award aims to honor Indian female athletes and their achievements, discuss their challenges, and bring their stories to light.
At the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year event, Manu Bhaker connected her honor with her future aspirations.
A Powerful Comeback Story
Manu Bhaker's success at the Paris Olympics is a story of a powerful comeback after facing failure.
In the 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 in Tokyo), Manu Bhaker was under immense pressure. At 19, she couldn’t live up to expectations and didn’t reach the medal rounds in any event, which was a significant setback for her.
Disheartened and losing hope, Manu began to feel detached from the sport she had embraced at 14, after trying out boxing, athletics, skating, judo, and karate.
In 2016, when Manu decided that shooting was her future, her father Ramkishan Bhaker, a marine engineer, quit his job to support her dreams.
Within five years, Manu achieved considerable success. At the 2017 National Shooting Championship, she defeated world number one Heena Sidhu in the 10-meter air pistol event.
In 2018, Manu won two gold medals in a single day at the Women’s World Cup, an extraordinary feat. She won the 10-meter air pistol gold by defeating two-time world champion Alejandra Zavala from Mexico.
In 2019, Manu secured a quota for the Tokyo Olympics. These achievements filled her with a bit of attitude, but her star continued to shine in the shooting world.
Everyone closely watching Indian sports had their eyes on Manu Bhaker during the Tokyo Olympics. However, a malfunctioning pistol in one event derailed her entire Olympic campaign, and her attitude issues compounded the problem.
Manu couldn’t digest her failure and blamed her then-coach Jaspal Rana. The former shooter called it her immaturity, and they parted ways.
Following this, Manu's passion for the sport waned. She admitted in several media interviews that she was considering leaving shooting to study abroad. However, as the Paris Olympics approached, she couldn’t shake the thought of giving herself one more chance.
The Call to Jaspal Rana
Manu Bhaker was not only inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem "Still I Rise" but also by the teachings of the Gita, which kept her spirit high during tough times.
In a surprising move, Manu decided to make a call no one expected. She reached out to her former coach, Jaspal Rana.
A year ago, Manu called Jaspal Rana asking for help once again. Despite advice from her close ones against it, after trying four different coaches, Manu realized that only Jaspal Rana could change her fate.
Before the Paris Olympics, she expressed her belief that Jaspal Rana could bring out her best performance. Following Manu's bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics, Jaspal Rana told the media he couldn’t refuse her call because he believed in her potential to make history.
He credited Manu entirely for her success. Over the year, Jaspal Rana focused solely on Manu, setting aside his other 100 students. He emphasized that Manu dedicated herself completely to her Olympic preparations.
During this time, Manu also received support from India’s Khelo India program. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the government spent 20 million rupees on her training, sending her to Germany and Switzerland, and helping her hire her preferred coach.
Manu Bhaker's Historic Pursuit
Jaspal Rana, as Manu Bhaker's personal coach, has been with her in Paris, dedicating hours of practice for each event. This dedication paid off when Manu became the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal.
Jaspal Rana believes Manu can win more medals. Her next test is on Tuesday, with a chance to win not just one more, but potentially a third medal in her favorite event, the 25-meter air pistol.
In Olympic history, the record for the most medals in a single event belongs to American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His dominance was such that he won gold in every event he participated in, amassing a total of 28 Olympic medals, including 23 golds.
In the women's category, German swimmer Kristin Otto made history by winning six gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Though Manu’s achievements might seem modest compared to these records, considering the status of women’s sports in India, her accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary.
Conclusion
Manu Bhaker's journey to the Paris Olympics is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of belief. From facing a significant setback in the Tokyo Olympics to making a remarkable comeback, Manu's story is one of triumph over adversity. Her ability to overcome defeat, rekindle her passion for shooting, and reach out to her former coach, Jaspal Rana, highlights her unwavering dedication.
Supported by her father's sacrifices and the Indian government's Khelo India program, Manu has not only opened India's medal tally in Paris but also stands on the brink of creating history as the first Indian woman shooter to win multiple medals in a single Olympics. Her inspiring journey, marked by hard work and relentless spirit, serves as a beacon of hope and motivation for aspiring athletes worldwide.