On the opening day of the RevSportz Trailblazers 3.0, India’s ace shooter Manu Bhaker, a Paris Olympics double-bronze medalist, took the spotlight in an engaging session with RevSportz Editor-in-Chief Boria Majumdar.
Before being named the RevSportz Athlete of the Year (Female) 2024, Manu shared insights into her journey, key learnings, and aspirations moving forward. In a candid conversation, she reflected on her experiences and the path ahead as she continues to make strides in the sport.
Manu’s journey in shooting has been nothing short of remarkable. When she won Commonwealth Games gold at just 16, she did not fully grasp the magnitude of her achievement. It was only upon returning home that she realised the expectations that came with success.
Since then, she has grown used to the scrutiny, whether in competitions or training. However, setbacks soon followed and the Tokyo Olympics did not go as planned. These experiences shaped her perspective. “Now, I believe neither success nor failure can shake me,” she said. “I have understood that life moves in cycles. I give my best and leave the rest to fate.”
Criticism is something she has learned to ignore, especially on social media. When her gun malfunctioned, online abuse followed, but she refused to let it affect her. “If I give my best and win only a bronze, and people still criticise me, I do not let it bother me,” she said. “Opinions are easy to give, but they do not define my journey.”
She deals with negativity by spending time with family, taking a vacation, or simply disconnecting – “I just switch off my phone and move on.”
Manu acknowledged that access to sports is not equal for everyone in India. She supported what Pullela Gopichand had talked about recently, that only rich kids will take up sports. “I read that article and somewhere, it has some truth also behind it,” she said. “Many people buy equipment without guidance. Some do not know where to go for coaching. These challenges need to be addressed so that more athletes get opportunities.”
As a firm believer in hard work, Manu resonated with Abhinav Bindra’s philosophy that champions are made away from the media glare. She understands that success is not built once every four years but is the result of daily dedication. “Training has become a habit for me. Even as a child, I was highly competitive, always striving to do better.”
However, she also recognised that an athlete’s success is not just about individual effort. “It requires a strong support system—coaches, family, and organisations that believe in us.”
After the Paris Olympics, she took a planned three-month break, but some people criticised her decision. “I ignored the negativity because I knew I needed that rest for longevity in sport.” Even during her time off, she maintained her fitness and diet. Her idea of unwinding is simple. “Sitting in the sun, reading, sleeping without an alarm, and getting a massage or physio session. And no matter what, I never skip my aloo parathas!”
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Her focus is now firmly set on the 2028 Olympics. Planning began in January, and she has been working on new grips and pistols, which she will start using by mid-year. “We have a structured approach. Some competitions will be for performance, while others will be for experimentation. I am determined to improve and push my limits.”
Looking back at Paris, she was close to a third medal in the 25m pistol event, finishing fourth. That near-miss was tough to accept, but instead of dwelling on it, she chooses to learn from it. “Many athletes finish fourth despite performing exceptionally well. My goal is to turn that into a podium finish next time.”
Indian shooting is in a strong place, and she believes that by 2028, the country could double its medal tally. “In Paris, multiple Indian shooters finished fourth, showing how close we were to winning medals. With continued effort and the right support, I am confident we will deliver even better results in Los Angeles.”
Events like Trailblazers hold special importance for her. “They bring athletes together, allowing us to share our stories and highlight sports that don’t always get the spotlight.” She missed the second edition but has been part of the first and third and is already looking forward to the fourth.
She also pointed out a glaring reality—none of the world’s top 100 highest-paid athletes are women. “This needs to change. Progress may be slow, but we have to start somewhere. Even if five women make that list in the near future, it would be a step in the right direction.”
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