Manu Bhaker fought back tears after narrowly missing a medal at the Asian Games, but her emotions overflowed when she spoke about her late coach and mentor, Jaspal Rana. The 24-year-old shooter placed fifth in the women’s 10m air pistol final in Aichi-Nagoya on Wednesday, a challenging event made more difficult by Rana’s absence.
This was Bhaker’s first multi-sport event since Rana passed away from cardiac issues in June at the age of 49. Rana had been instrumental in shaping her career, and his absence weighed heavily on her during the competition. When asked about him after the event, Bhaker found it hard to express her feelings, reflecting on the lasting impact he had on her life.
“Thinking back on all those years, it’s not just a fleeting memory; it becomes part of you,” Bhaker shared.
Rana greatly influenced Bhaker’s journey, guiding her to win two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was renowned as one of India’s top shooters, bringing home eight medals from the Asian Games, including four golds.
Bhaker recalled one of the key lessons from Rana: to prioritize the process over the outcome. “He always insisted on focusing on the process. No matter where you are in life, you need to give your best performance while following your process,” she explained.
During the final, Bhaker struggled with an 8.9 score on her eighth shot, which ultimately affected her chances for a medal. “It really changed my chances, even if people don’t want to admit it,” she acknowledged.
Her training in Japan had also been challenging, with difficult pre-training sessions affecting her confidence. “Yesterday’s session was tough; I faced a lot of struggles and couldn’t see the targets clearly,” she revealed.
Bhaker worked hard to stick to her process during both the qualification and the final. “Making my process a priority was key for me. Overall, I performed better than in practice sessions back in Bhopal,” she said, expressing optimism about improving in future competitions.
Reflecting on Rana’s legacy, she shared a personal lesson he imparted: “Life is unpredictable; make the most of it and be kind to others.”
Despite leaving the Asian Games without an individual medal, Bhaker remains hopeful for the future, crediting her support team for their contributions. “Many people work hard behind the scenes to help us succeed. Coach Jelena has been incredibly supportive and patient,” she noted.
Though she didn’t medal this time, Bhaker remains grateful for the experience and is determined to perform better next time. “I’m thankful for what I learned and hope to improve moving forward,” she concluded.
