CHATEAUROUX: Three years ago at Tokyo Olympics, Manu Bhaker, then 19, had tears in her eyes. Burdened with great expectations, she failed to make the finals. She was bogged down by the hype of being the prodigy who would rule the world of shooting. Defeat left her broken. But she healed fast and has returned to show why she will be on top for a while.
On Sunday, Manu, now 22, shot like a pro, like she has been for months now.No nerves, no excuses, no meltdown. She was in the zone, making history by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal – a bronze in 10m air pistol. The gold and silver went to South Korea.
“It was very intense. The pressure was immense, but Manu was very brave. Really proud of her,” her personal coach Jaspal Rana said.
It wasn’t the smoothest ride for Manu leading up to Paris: she had not won an Olympic quota in this discipline. However, she performed brilliantly in the trials and was picked for 10m air pistol, apart from the 25m air pistol event.
On Sunday, Manu, now 22, shot like a pro, like she has been for months now.No nerves, no excuses, no meltdown. She was in the zone, making history by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal – a bronze in 10m air pistol. The gold and silver went to South Korea.
“It was very intense. The pressure was immense, but Manu was very brave. Really proud of her,” her personal coach Jaspal Rana said.
It wasn’t the smoothest ride for Manu leading up to Paris: she had not won an Olympic quota in this discipline. However, she performed brilliantly in the trials and was picked for 10m air pistol, apart from the 25m air pistol event.
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