Manu Bhaker cannot wait to get back to shooting range
Olympics medallist Manu Bhaker exudes the kind of calmness and maturity that belies her age. Only 22, the current super star of the Indian shooting team has made peace with her status after winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympic Games, and also the drama that it brings along.
After her wins, she has been invited to countless events — including Saturday’s Sports Conclave organised by the DAV society. She has been kept busy with the functions and away from the shooting range; and she would do anything to get back.
She confesses of irritation but caps it with her best shot by saying it is the new norm in her life and she gets to meet a lot of new and interesting people.
“It has been tiring. I have been part of a lot of events. I am in the midst of my Masters final exams and then been attending a lot of family functions and spending time with my family,” she said.
“The time with the family is refreshing but mostly it has been hectic. I have been trying to do my fitness routines regularly. Been trying to do other things that are important on a regular basis, however, I haven’t been getting a lot of time,” she added.
“It has been very interesting for me because this kind of experience was very new to me. Right now I am very familiar with it. Earlier it was one day this, one day that and I was meeting new people every other day so it has been very interesting,” she added.
Manu said that she still gets annoyed sometimes, especially at a few of the social media posts, but understands that it is because of her wins. “I get irritated sometimes when people misbehave with you (at functions). Sometimes I get annoyed looking at the social media. It (social media) will be good and then bad sometimes, it is like that. Also this is a phase in life. This too shall pass,” she said, accepting the perils of becoming a household name.
‘I have matured’
Manu, in her own words, has evolved in the last few years. She reckons that failures and controversies, including the not-so-flattering results at the Tokyo Olympics, taught her lifelong lessons.
“My down phase taught me a lot. In terms of keeping patient, being calm and not reacting to things. These things taught me to be more stable in life, to be more mature in life. Since 2018, I have had lots of ups and downs. I have changed quite a bit but I am the same old Manu, somewhat,” she said.
“Every person matures with time. It takes time. You have to experience good and bad and when you face a lot of downfall then you learn. In life you develop an element of acceptance, patience, then it teaches you persistence,” she added.
Manu is planning to hit the shooting range full-time from next week. “I have been doing a few training sessions every now and then but I will be getting back to regular training as soon as my exams (Masters in Public Administration) are over. My last exam is on November 5. I love my sport and I cannot wait to get back,” she said.
