Chandigarh: DAV College celebrates Manu Bhanker’s Olympic feat
Deepankar Sharda
Chandigarh, July 28
Last October, in a hall jam-packed with students at DAV College, Sector 10, the Hangzhou Asian Games (team) gold medallist Manu Bhaker danced to the beats of dhol, while the gathering lauded her achievement. While everyone was enjoying the moment, she went into a ‘serious’ mode when a journalist asked the shooter about her 2022 Tokyo Olympics misfortune.
Nine months later, the world saw Manu, a student of DAV College, smiling while flaunting the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics. The 22-year-old shooter from Haryana has become the first Indian female shooter to win a medal in the women’s 10m air pistol in the Olympics. In the last Olympics, she had finished 12th in the event and 15th in the 25m pistol event. In the 10m air pistol mixed team event, she bagged 7th spot after her pistol malfunctioned.
On Sunday, she ended the country’s 12-year wait for a medal in shooting at the Olympics. She has become the fifth shooter after Abhinav Bindra, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang to win an Olympics medal in shooting for the nation.
A brilliant student
Dr Amanendra Mann, Head, Department of Physical Education, DAV College, is one of the closest associates of the ace shooter. Manu, who got enrolled for her Master’s degree in 2022-23, represented Panjab University in the Kehlo India University Games and many other events. Mann was going to Chateauroux shooting range in France when he saw Manu win the historic medal live on his mobile phone. “Manu is a disciplined, mentally strong, committed, goal-oriented, hard-working and fun-loving shooter. Whether it’s a national or international tournament, she plays every shot with a composed mind. She is very strict with her training schedule and applies the same temperament to academics. At such a young age, she has mastered time management to perform excellently in sports as well as academics,” said an elated Mann, who will be meeting her on Monday.
He said, “Her Olympics bronze is a milestone that will be remembered and celebrated for years to come. It’s a shining example of what can be achieved with passion and perseverance. Also, it’s a great comeback. She dedicated herself completely to shooting,” said Mann over the phone from Chateauroux.
In the evening, the student residents and faculty of DAV College celebrated Manu’s victory. “It’s a great achievement and we are proud that she is a student of our college. We have been watching her achieve new heights in the past, but an Olympics medal is something very amazing,” said Anita, a student.
Indian shooters Sarabjot Singh and Vijayveer Sidhu, who are also from this college, are part of the Indian contingent in this Olympics. “The college has a rich connection with the Olympics history. Our alumnus Neeraj Chopra won the first ever gold medal in Olympics. Other players, including Olympians Anjum Moudgil and Yashaswini Deswal, and Malaika Goel, have proved their mettle in various events,” said Prof Ritu Jain, Principal, DAV College.
PU to give her a special chance
Due to the Paris Olympics, Manu failed to take her final exams of the 2nd year Masters in Public Administration. However, she got enrolled in a diploma course in Mass Communication at the same college. Panjab University will announce a special chance for her to take examination on her return from Paris.
Her achievements
- Silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships
- Nine medals at the 2017 National Games
- Gold medal at the 2018 International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico
- Gold medal at the World Cup in the 10m air pistol mixed team event
- Gold medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
- Gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympics 2018
- Gold medal at the 2019 ISSF World Cup
- Gold medal at the 2019 Pistol & Rifle ISSF World Cups
- Gold (team) at the 2022 Asian Games
