Pressure and nerves, an elite athlete has to constantly deal with it, not just in the field of play, but also away from it. As the Indian pistol shooting squad fine-tunes and hopes to win medals in Paris 2024 Olympics, Manu Bhaker spoke to RevSportz before leaving for the boot camp in Luxembourg.
Competing in three events in Paris, after blazing the trials in New Delhi and Bhopal during the intense summer heat, Manu went to Germany and then Luxembourg. It was important she returned to New Delhi to meet her family, even though her training did not stop, under the eyes of coach Jaspal Rana.
Manu had to be persuaded into talking, as all shooters have decided to entirely focus on the Olympics. There is a restriction from the NRAI (National Rifle Association of India) that the shooters just train and do their best in Paris. It is a good policy, no doubt, but interacting with media which shows the athlete and sport in a positive light will never be objected to.
“Sport minus pressure and nerves, how is that possible? Everywhere I go, I keep hearing medals, medals when people talk to me,” Manu told RevSportz in an exclusive chat before flying out to Luxembourg on Tuesday night. Even at the Karni Singh ranges in the Capital, Manu is swarmed and asked how she will do in Paris. Yes, it does put pressure on her but she is now used to it. “I have been shooting for so long now, I am used to all this. But if I say there is no pressure or nerves, that’s not possible. I am thankful to each person behind my efforts in preparing for the Olympics, from the Sports Authority of India, to the Sports Ministry, the NRAI and also the Indian Olympic Association and also OGQ (Olympic Gold Quest),” said Manu.
In June 2023, Manu had almost decided to quit shooting as she was not enjoying it. It had become more like a job rather than a passion. She blames nobody for it, but decided introspection would be necessary. When a star athlete spends time alone and thinks, many solutions come up.
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“I am glad I could walk up to my coach Jaspal Rana Sir last summer (2023) and request him to guide me. He heard me out and then the journey began. It has been amazing for me. Day in and day out, I meditate, do yoga, shoot at the ranges and then do my fitness drills. To do all this and enjoy it, I am very happy. What I will do in Paris, time will tell. One man who has been pushing me hard daily is Jaspal Sir. I needed this push and I do not fear anything today,” said Manu.
It was hard to engage her in a conversation too deep. Even though she was physically in New Delhi, the mind and heart are in Luxembourg and Paris. The environment in the entire Indian pistol shooting camp is upbeat, with Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan also training very hard with their respective coaches. Some in rapid-fire-pistol like Anish Bhanwala have opted for a different training base.
This is Manu’s second Olympics and she is aware the Tokyo failure hurts. “It’s not just about me, each shooter who has made the cut for Paris is working so hard. Its 100 per cent for me and I am sure the same for all other shooters as well. Yet, if I am constantly asked on ‘medals and medals’, I can only smile,” she said.
It could be a mechanism of sorts on how to handle pressure, not feel stressed, for Luxembourg as a training centre is good and conditions in many ways are similar to Paris. She knows shooting is a sport where longevity is certain as long as the shooter can relish training and not lose focus. “Yes, I am fully focused, that’s all I can say,” she stressed.
Someone like Abhinav Bindra needed a third attempt to attain glory in Beijing 2008 when he shot gold in air rifle. Gagan Narang has also been part of four Olympic campaigns and his bronze medal in London 2012 is special. Gagan is now the chef de mission for the Paris Olympics. When the Indian shooters reach Paris, they will be in the best frame of mind. Each one of them has got the best support and a support system.
Medals? Why not wait till the competition begins at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, around three hours away from Paris, on July 27. For the record, Manu will be competing in three events: sports pistol, air pistol and the mixed event.