New Delhi: Marked by technical issues with her pistol and a split with her long-time coach Jaspal Rana, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were a challenging time for Manu Bhaker. It led to disappointing finishes in the 10m and 25m air pistol events. At her lowest point, the 22-year-old even considered quitting the sport.
But less than five years later, the Indian shooter made a remarkable turnaround, winning two bronze medals and narrowly missing a third at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In an exclusive interview with ThePrint, Bhaker, reflecting on her newfound fame, said, “Life has been different.”
She admitted she’s lost count of the number of interviews she has given but remains unfazed. “We should enjoy everything life has to offer and I’m just trying to go with the flow,” she said.
Bhaker scripted history in Paris by becoming the first athlete from Independent India to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympic games. Her historic win may still seem like a dream for some, but, for her, it was just another day on the job.
Bhaker said she didn’t have much time to bask in the glory of her achievement. “Honestly, I was able to allow myself to get over it on the day itself,” she said matter-of-factly.
With another match the next day, Bhaker’s focus was already on the next challenge. “I was in a state where I really wanted to perform and try to do my best. Not giving in—that was the mindset,” she added.
Even after winning a medal, she didn’t let it distract her from her goals. In fact, she tucked it away, literally. “After the day of the individual finals, I kept my medal in the almirah and told myself that this medal isn’t going to help you do wonders in tomorrow’s match until you focus.”
The compact scheduling of the Paris Olympics left little time for reflection.
“The next day qualifications went great, followed by the finals,” she recalled. “The schedule was actually so hectic I didn’t get time to sit down and analyse my performance.”
But Bhaker made sure to take a moment to assess her performance once the dust settled.
“We had prepared in a manner that we were actually expecting a medal,” she revealed. “We didn’t know how many medals it would be and what their colours would be.”
For Bhaker, the key to success was sticking to the plan. “The way we had trained and my team had put in the effort, it was natural for us to expect a medal,” she explained.
“I was just trying to stick to the plan. The plan was to follow the same routine until the very last day.” This disciplined approach paid off.
When asked how she avoids overdoing things when the stakes are high, she shared her insights on managing pressure. “I’ve had a career in shooting for the past eight and a half years, and before it, I was in different sports. By now I have understood how the life of an athlete works… or actually how the life of anybody would work.”
Also read: How PR Sreejesh became the ‘custodian’ of India’s hockey dreams & proved himself wrong
‘There are always ups and downs’
Bhaker’s experience has taught her that it’s impossible to always be at the peak. “There are ups and downs, and you cannot be on the peak all the time or you can’t be doing badly all the time.”
This understanding has helped her develop a balanced approach to competition. Bhaker’s journey to becoming a double Olympic medalist wasn’t without its challenges. She recalled how, four years ago, losses would take a toll on her. “It used to take a toll on me and every resulting loss would make me feel horrible,” she said, reflecting on her early days.
But with time, experience, and more matches, Bhaker learned to handle pressure and losses better. “I’ve learnt to handle everything better and be consistent.”
Bhaker’s philosophy is simple: “Just be consistent and put in honest hard work.”
“Khud se bas honest reh kar apna kaam karo, baaki ab jo bhi hai dekhi jayegi.”
(As long as you are honest with yourself, and keep doing your work, everything else will fall into place)
Asked for her message to young athletes, she said, “As long as you enjoy the sport, just keep doing it.”
Bhaker’s calm demeanour on the shooting range belies her youth. She revealed that shooting is a sport that demands restraint, both physically and emotionally. “We cannot react and show aggression in any physical form,” she explained.
“We do feel angry and nervous. We want to scream. We want to break things.”
However, shooters must channel those emotions inward. “It’s a sport where you have to be calm,” Bhaker emphasised.
Unlike other sports, where athletes can express their emotions through physical gestures or vocal outbursts, shooting requires mental control. Bhaker’s composure is a skill she’s honed over time, one that didn’t come naturally to her. “It took a lot of time for me to get used to it,” she admitted, recalling her early days in the sport.
“Earlier, I used to cry in my matches. I used to break things, I used to punch walls all the time… I was aggressive and impulsive in nature.”
Her background in boxing and karate only added to her fiery personality.
But shooting demanded a different approach. “It took me some time, a lot of time… actually, to get used to shooting and just to be patient. To be calm and just to breathe.”
Taking a break & road to LA 2028
After a gruelling competition schedule, Bhaker is taking a well-deserved break. In a sport like shooting, where there’s no traditional off-season, she has learned to listen to her body and mind. “We never have any off-season in our sport,” she noted. “The last time was during the COVID-19 pandemic… that’s when I was still doing some dry practice at home.”
Even during her break from shooting training, Bhaker’s physical training will remain unchanged. She sees this as an opportunity to focus on her fitness and injury rehabilitation. “I love to go to the gym and workout,” she told ThePrint.
Bhaker’s approach to breaks is not about complete rest, but about rebalancing her priorities so she can return to her sport stronger and more focused than ever.
Her break from shooting is a timely opportunity to address some lingering health issues. “Last year, I was struggling with a scapular injury,” she revealed. “It was at the premature stage, but I’ll be able to work on it now.” Additionally, a wound on her hand, sustained from her pistol, is finally healing after a brief respite from training.
“Now it’ll be another journey until LA 2028, and I don’t want to be in bad form before a major competition,” she said, referring to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, US.
Bhaker’s rise has brought her under the social media spotlight, but she’s cautious about its influence. “I started being in the same routine for the Olympics two months before it began,” she revealed. “I was completely shut off from social media. I wasn’t aware of what was going online and how big of an impact it would have over people.”
Adding, “I understand that the bigger your achievements become, the more responsibility is added on you,” she said thoughtfully. “I’m only new to this, and I’m learning about everything.”
“It’s always better to not let social media affect you,” she advised. “If there’s a lot of hype, you shouldn’t let it affect you, just like it is with criticism.”
She believes social media should be a positive space for connection and appreciation, rather than a source of stress or distraction.
Asked about the controversy surrounding a journalist’s comments on her appearance, she acknowledged the natural human curiosity about public figures. “I think maybe they are interested and keen to know different elements of one’s life,” she said. “That is very natural and human nature.”
However, Bhaker also recognises that this curiosity can sometimes tip into objectification. “Maybe sometimes people can objectify you, like ‘she’s pretty’ or ‘he’s handsome’,” she noted. Rather than getting defensive or upset, Bhaker chooses to focus on what she can control—her own reactions and responses.
Bhaker further shared her thoughts on teaming up with Sarabjot Singh, her partner at the bronze medal-winning mixed event in Paris, saying, “We had trained together before the Olympics, so I was confident in his abilities and knew he would do his best. I focused on managing my own performance, and we didn’t put pressure on each other.”
Bhaker revealed that their approach to the team events was built on a foundation of independence and mutual support. “We played independently when we were in the lane, and that level of confidence was there.”
Instead, they focused on supporting each other.
When asked about her reading habits, Bhaker revealed that she’s currently engrossed in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. However, her favourite book is the biography of Usain Bolt, which she found deeply inspiring. She is also eager to read the biography of US swimmer Michael Phelps which was recommended to her. “I would prefer biographies any day,” she said. “They add something inspiring and motivate me to push myself even further in life.”
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
Also read: 3 out of 5 Indian race walkers at Paris Olympics couldn’t even cross finish line. What went wrong