‘No regrets, this is better than not making finals’: Manu Bhaker after finishing fourth in 25m pistol event at Paris Olympics | Paris Olympics 2024 News – Times of India

CHATEAUROUX: “Hi!” Manu Bhaker greeted us as she walked into the mixed zone wearing a pretty smile. She had just come out of the shooting range, having missed another medal that would have added to her growing stature. She wore the disappointment of it all lightly on her shoulders.
“Yes, fourth position, but I am not complaining. There is always a next time.The two medals I have won for India have given me a lot of motivation. I will keep trying my best to do better in the future,” said Manu, looking composed.
Manu, was the start poor? “Yes. It was a rollercoaster. But I recovered and caught up with the field. I kept telling myself, ‘keep trying, give your best on every shot’. I kept trying but nerves got the better of me. I was trying but things were not going my way,” she said.”It was a fourth-place finish, but I feel this is better than not making the final. I have no regrets. There are certain elements I have to work on. I will start preparing for the next cycle,” she added.
On her routine here at the Olympics, she said: “I have a very rigid routine. I don’t know about others. But I like to work out in the gym every day, every time before matches, after the matches. I am a regular at the gym. I eat on time, meditate and sleep on time. It is a very rigid routine.”
Was she disappointed with the fourth finish? “I tried my best. Grateful that I won two medals for India. I am still learning what to say. Whatever I say, I say it from my heart. I will keep working hard for as many years as possible, as many Olympics as possible. I would want all those who have backed me to keep supporting me, keep cheering for India.”

On the momentum that she rode here, Manu said: “My coach Jaspal Rana had prepared me for this. In the camp, during normal training, he got me ready for a long haul… he told me you will have so many days of competition. So showed me how to stick to my routine, kept myself physically and mentally fit. I was well prepared, which is why my performance was great.”
Do you need to work harder in the 25m pistol discipline? “I got my Olympic quota place in 25m, which is why I am here. So, I am grateful to the event. End of the day, I put in equal effort in 10m and 25m. I have been consistent in both events. It was only a matter of fine margins here.”

Was she under pressure to win the third medal? “No. My coach said history is history. Now live in the present. You can sit back later to reflect on how everything went. My coach does a great job in keeping me in the present. So, there was no pressure to win the third medal, but I definitely wanted to go out and give my best.”
What do you want to do now in the coming days? “I don’t know. My mind is completely blank now. I don’t know what India has to show to me once I get back. I don’t really have a list, that I want to do this, do that.”
What was the major difference between Tokyo and Paris in terms of her mental state? “One major difference here was confidence. In Tokyo, I was not confident at all and I was scared about everything. This time around I feel much more confident and mature with my experience too.
“A major part of the credit should go to my coach. Because of him I feel so confident. If you try to grasp the best out of the experiences, it can teach you a lot.”