Manu Bhaker ended India’s shooting medal drought over the past two Olympics by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol final in Paris. She also became the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal. Suma Shirur had a chance to make history at the 2004 Athens Olympics but unfortunately finished eighth in the final. Now, 20 years later, as a coach, she witnessed this historic moment through Manu’s achievement. Following this triumph, she had a quick chat with RevSportz’s Editor-in-Chief, Boria Majumdar, sharing her feelings and plans for upcoming events.
An ecstatic Suma said: “I am so delighted with the wonderful start given by our very own Manu, not just by making it to the final, but going out there and winning a medal for the country. It could not get better. Ramita has made it to the final, Arjun has made it to the final. So, I think it is good going.”
Reflecting on her own experience 20 years ago, Suma recalled the 2004 Olympics, where the conditions were vastly different. Back then, they lacked facilities, including electronic targets, and faced challenges such as insufficient pellets and the need to drive long distances for practice. Despite these difficulties and being a mother to a young child, Suma made it to the Olympic final. She now sees the significant improvements in facilities and support for athletes.
“We did not have enough pellets, and along with that, the circumstances were so different. And for me also I was a mother, a little boy, less than two years old (was) with me. Despite all of that, I made it to the Olympic final,” she further added.
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🚨SUMA SHIRUR EXCLUSIVE🚨
“Every athlete is here not just to participate but to win,” says @SumaShirur, Chief Coach of the Shooting Team.
The former Indian shooter is elated by Manu Bhaker’s historic bronze and discusses the medal prospects of the shooting contingent.… pic.twitter.com/LGJHsvI91c
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) July 29, 2024
As a coach, Suma spoke highly of Ramita, noting her strong performance in the mixed event and her ability to learn and apply lessons from previous competitions. She highlighted: “She has a growth mindset, and she is learning every day, and she is finding that courage inside her to use it and be able to perform. So that is the side we see about Ramita. In fact, after her performance, the first thing I told her was, ‘Ramita, you were very brave.’”
Speaking about the plans of keeping Ramita ready for the final, she noted: “I think more than anyone else, I think it is Ramita herself who wants to go out there and do her best. And she has done it before, and now is the time to rest well and recover and come back strong tomorrow.”
Regarding Elavenil Valarivan, Suma acknowledged the heartbreak of her recent performance. Despite her technical strength and a great start, a single slip in shooting can be devastating. “But like how they say in sport, it is not over till it is over. So, till the last shot, you can never say it. You have to be at it. And I think one slip has been heartbreaking and in shooting, it is so brutal.
“With one shot, you can make it to a final and with one shot, you can get out of a final. So, this is a classic case and definitely heartbreaking. And I do hope and pray that she finds strength. I hope that she is able to come out of it and come back stronger in the years to come,” he said.
With the jinx broken, Suma was optimistic about more medals in the next 10 days. “Well, looking at the work put in in the last two years, I think every athlete who is here is not here to just participate, but every athlete has come here to win. Looking at the preparations, I feel very confident.
“I continue to have my full belief in all the shooters. I only hope that everyone – every shooter, every athlete going out there should perform. That is what I would want to see,” Suma concluded.
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