The two-time Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker opened up about her relationship with her coach and former Indian shooter Jaspal Rana. Bhaker became an overnight sensation after scripting history at the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024.
Manu Bhaker clinched two bronze medals, each in the women's 10m air pistol and mixed team 10m air pistol with Sarabjot Singh, making her the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Summer Games. Additionally, Bhaker became the third athlete from independent after Sushil Kumar and PV Sindhu to win medals at the Olympics.
Coach's guidance
Manu Bhaker's coach Jaspal Rana played a crucial role in the success of the Indian shooter at the Paris Olympics. Speaking to PTI Editors at its headquarters, the 22-year-old said that Rana is a father-figure to her and explained how he gives her the courage to perform better.
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"I would say he's like a father to me and it's a matter of trust that you put in a person. He gives me a lot of courage whenever I feel, whether I can do it or not," Bhaker said.
"He will probably slap me and he'll be like 'you can do it, you trained for it." she added.
Manu Bhaker and Jaspal Rana parted ways before the Tokyo Olympics 2021 due to rift between them. After Bhaker had a forgettable Olympic debut in Tokyo, where her pistol was malfuctioned and returned home with the empty hand despite hands, the student-coach duo got back together in order to erase the painful episode and getting back on focusing on the Paris Olympics.
Bhaker and Rana getting back together has indeed worked at the Paris Olympics 2024, where the shooter from Haryana scripted historic feat of becoming the Indian female athlete in shooting to win an Olympic medal.
'He'll push my limits': Manu Bhaker on Jaspal Rana
Further talking about Jaspal Rana, Manu Bhaker said that his coach often push her limits in order to deliver her best in shooting.
"I mean it's not like a slap (literally) but like, I'm just using a slang. It's like he'll push my limits. He'll be like 'you've been training for this and obviously you will be able to deliver." Bhaker said.
Jaspal Rana became the coach of Manu Bhaker in 2018 and played a crucial role in early success of her shooting career, winning the gold medals in 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 Youth Olympics. After parting way with Rana in 2021, Manu Bhaker trained under new coach.
However, in 2023, Bhaker decided to re-unite with her former coach Jaspal Rana for the Paris Olympics 2024.
