Paris Olympics shooting: Watched by Jaspal Rana, who got her career back on track, Manu Bhaker eyes 10m air pistol medal on Sunday

Manu Bhaker eyes 10m air pistol medal at Paris Olympics on Sunday (X/OlympicKhel)

Manu Bhaker showcased her skills and temperament as she shot well enough to make the women’s 10m air pistol final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. For all those watching Manu deal with the high-pressure situation and a fierce field, the 10-metre pistol range in Chatearoux, 275km from Paris, was her arena as she absorbed a dip in form and yet made the final, slated for Sunday.

Watched by Jaspal Rana, her personal coach, and many more anxious fans, Manu entered the arena with a measure of calmness. On Friday, she had gone through the drill of pre-qualification training where the lanes are allotted to the shooters.

To stand there and take aim at the target, situated 10 metres away – she had repeated this exercise again and again. It may have seemed mechanical at first, but Olympic pressure is something very different in any sport.

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Rana had prepared her well for these moments over the last 13 months. “Looking at her match from outside, it looks so simple,” he said. “Inside the lane, one feels the heat. The best can collapse under pressure, so I am happy she did well today. Of course, the challenge is she does well on Sunday in the final. We have worked on how to prepare for the final, but this is the Olympics.”

Manu is not allowed to talk to the media during the Olympics till her final shot is fired on Sunday in the air pistol. During earlier conversations, she had spoken of her passion and wanting to do well for India. She had mentioned how competing in three events in the Olympics was not pressure, but something she enjoyed.

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During one of her interviews, a month ago, she spoke of how she wanted to quit shooting at one point of time. “I had lost interest in shooting last year, around May,” she said. “I then reached out to Jaspal Sir and we agreed to train together. I am thankful he is back to help me out in the journey.”

On Saturday, all these quotes came back in a flash, as Manu aced qualification. To deal with the highs and lows was the key. Manu did feel the pressure in the sixth series but came back with fierce determination. This is the kind of form she needs to show in the final on Sunday. Compared to the Tokyo Olympics and even the last Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, Manu has turned it around very well.

To enter the final is in itself an achievement, though she will not be satisfied with it. She will also compete in the 25m sports pistol and mixed event later in the Olympics, but for now, all the focus is on the 10m target – 60 shots from glory.

In exclusive arrangement with RevSportz