Manu Bhaker overwhelmed by Jaspal Rana’s memories after missing out on medal in 10m air pistol
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the 10m air pistol event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Following the recent passing of her coach and mentor Jaspal Rana, Bhaker became visibly overwhelmed and emotional when discussing his influence on her career.
Why it matters
It underscores the deep personal and professional impact of mentorship on elite athletes facing high-stakes international competitions.
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.
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