In training, I was fined 40 to 400 euros if I failed to achieve a target: Manu Bhaker | Paris Olympics 2024 News – Times of India

PARIS: “Oh my god! So many phones! I have so many options,” Manu Bhaker exclaimed, happiness shining through her voice, as she looked at the tray which held at least 20 mobile phones of eager Indian journalists who had gathered in the mixed zone to speak to the shooting star here on Sunday.
She laughed some more, not apprehensive anymore of what would come her way.She had the medal around her neck to give her confidence. She looked unburdened. The questions came in a hurry. What was going through your mind last night Manu?

“I was not tense. I read the Bhagavad Gita a lot. And you know those famous advice which Lord Krishna gave to Arjun: ‘Apna karm karo, phal ki chinta mat karo (Just do your work, don’t think of result). So I knew I just had to give my best.”

Tell us about your special bonding with your coach Jaspal Rana.
“He is special. He made the training so difficult for me that shooting here was easy. We worked very hard on the technical areas. His style of coaching is so different. He would often give me very difficult targets. If I failed to achieve them, he would make me donate a certain amount of money to the needy. It would be 40 euros one day, 400 euros the other day.”

On having won an Olympic medal at such a young age, and being destined for bigger things, Manu said: “It feels surreal. Have dreamt of this for years. Yes, top of the world. I did miss the silver by 0.1 point, but I have no complaints. This medal is for all of us, our country. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me on this journey – my coach, other Indian coaches, my parents, Sports Authority of India…everyone.

“But there is no time to celebrate. I have to compete in many more events. Yes, you cannot be at the top of your game all the time and I have become used to it. I will still give my best in the upcoming competitions.”
Manu does not want to talk about the Tokyo heartbreak but did say that it gave her important lessons.

“Whatever happened in Tokyo was probably because of my carelessness, probably my fault. Let us leave that part behind. There were so many lessons there. If I had not learnt from them, this would not have come. Tokyo was a valuable input on the road to Paris. I told myself last night that I would give my best. Dekhi jayegi! Aage Bhagwan dekh lenge (will see how it goes; god will take care of the rest).”

You talk of God. How religious are you?
“After Tokyo, I became religious. But not in a fanatic way. For me, God is some form of energy which guides us through life. It is like an aura around us. I believe in that.”