These are exciting times for Indian shooting. Late on Friday, in Granada, Spain, Manu Bhaker shot a bronze medal in the ISSF World Cup, a warm-up event before the Paris Olympics. What is unique is the event was not the 25m sports pistol but air pistol.
Last year, Manu Bhaker had sealed a quota place for India in the sports pistol event at the Asian Championship. Yet, she had rued being dropped from the air pistol team. As a build-up for the Olympics, the National Rifle Association of India has been sending plenty of marksmen for the World Cups abroad, all at Government expense.
Back to the air pistol match, Manu made the cut for the eight-woman final after coming up with a score of 576 in the prelim phase. Air pistol, by nature, is a slow fire event. She has been going through the paces in both events, even though, initially, the NRAI was not keen Manu shoots the air pistol event.
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In comparison to Manu’s 576, Rhythm Sangwan came up with a 580 out of 600 in a field where there were 54 shooters filling the lanes. Rhythm had topped the qualifying phase but the crunch was in the final. Manu was well in control of her nerves as she fired 215.1 in the final to seal a bronze medal, her fifth till now in World Cups. Rhythm Sangwan finished eighth.
Back to Manu, she has been training under personal coach Jaspal Rana. Despite the restrictions on not allowing her coach to travel with her abroad, she has been shooting with consistency.
It has a lot to do with her mental state, one of nirvana and being composed. In the past, she used to get upset with small things easily. Now, Manu has learnt to take these things, the external factors, in her stride. Imagine, a top shooter has to pay for her own, personal coach thanks to Jaspal Rana not being favoured by the NRAI.
“My advice to Manu is do not worry about whatever factors you cannot control. I am seeing a mature Manu shoot these days. She needs to stay composed and relaxed in these coming months,” said Jaspal, who had put her through the paces in New Delhi very recently before she left for Granada. “Yes, I ensured she shoots both air pistol and sports pistol events at practice, it will keep her sharp,” added Jaspal.
After this, Manu will be travelling to Switzerland, an important tour. She will be testing ammunition, something very important for a shooter. Last heard, the NRAI and the Sports Authority of India have not cleared a coach to go with her. Entering a European country minus coach, manager and a mentor is very hard as there are so many restrictions on getting weapons cleared for the flight plus at Customs.
It is one thing the NRAI did not want Jaspal Rana to travel with her to Switzerland but was sending another coach who can help Manu Bhaker impossible?
These may small things but anyone who has followed Indian shooting will vouch weapon and ammunition clearance for entering a country abroad is a nightmare. Manu is tight-lipped on this topic but after winning a silver medal in an event where she is no longer the “favourite” the oistol queen is proving a few points! Mostly, to herself, that she can compete in multiple events. This sets up an interesting stage as the NRAI will hold two trials before the Paris Olympics to finalise the squad.
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