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Double-Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker has talked about her future with her coach Jaspal Rana. The 23-year-old said Rana will be her coach despite his elevation as the High Performance Trainer for the pistol discipline by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). Both Rana and Bhaker had a tussle with each other before the Tokyo Olympics 2020 but they came together again for the Paris Olympics, where Manu pulled off two bronze medals and broke into the record books. It was Rana’s guidance that made Bhaker the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic edition.
Manu Bhaker expressed gratitude towards Jaspal Rana, acknowledging that her victory wouldn’t have happened without the 48-year-old’s support. Addressing the media, she said, "Honestly, I can only say one thing—he is my coach, and he is very good at what he does. He is incredibly talented and has been a great coach for me," Manu said after receiving the BBC Sportswomen of the Year 2024 award on Monday night. "All I know and all I can say is that he is my coach. Of course, he can be anyone else’s coach too, but for me, he is my coach," she added.
Manu Bhaker gearing up for World Cup and domestic competitions
Manu Bhaker is looking to shine in the World Cup, set to be played in April and domestic competitions thereafter. Her objective is to appear in the World Championships, scheduled to take place in late November in Cairo, Egypt. Following the Paris Olympics, she took a hiatus to heal from her elbow injury. She appeared at the National Trials earlier this month and finished in the second position, following Rhythm Sangwan. However, Bhaker felt contended with her performance.
