Manu Bhaker overwhelmed by Jaspal Rana’s memories after missing out on medal in 10m air pistol

Manu Bhaker has had a rough two years since the Paris high, both off the range and off the podium. The 24-year-old has had a couple of podium finishes in both the 10m and 25m pistol events, a far cry from her own high standards, but it’s the sudden death of coach, mentor and father figure Jaspal Rana earlier this year that really broke her.

Since June, Manu, always an introvert, has been even more of a recluse than ever. She has barely interacted with anyone, focusing only on her training and her family and staying away from the spotlight and media. The death of her grandmother recently only made it worse, pushing her further inwards. At the training camp in Bhopal last month, Manu was a loner, travelling between the shooting range and the hotel, talking only when absolutely necessary.