CHATEAUROUX: The follower count on her Instagram account had spiralled to almost one million by Saturday. A week ago, she had just 1,50,000 followers. Her X handle was somewhere around 50k and now it is close to 2.5 lakh. That's what the two medals at Paris 2024 have done for Manu Bhaker's social media profile. The Games have made Manu a star, one of India's greatest Olympians. Myriad emotions flashed through her when she stood in the mixed zone. The medals have sunk in but not the enormity of the occasion, just as yet. "I am blank, my brain is blank right now," she said. For a shooter to keep emotions in check is the most daunting task.
There she stood, one last time at the Paris 2024 Olympics. One hand tucked inside the pocket, the other lifted straight, almost taut, perpendicular to the body, pointing at the target 25m away. Manu was shooting at history, composed and calm as ever.
The 22-year-shooter beguiled the small crowd assembled in the hall with her shots, accurate most of the time. She made the mentally toughest sport look like a simple game of snakes and ladders. Like in the game, she climbed and slipped on Saturday. One bad shot was what made the difference.
Keeping intensity and motivation intact for one week is no mean task. Yet she tried to live in the moment with her coach Jaspal Rana always bringing her back to earth and keeping her grounded. "He always told me to live in the present and prepare for the future. What is done is done and now we focus on the future."
Manu has been immaculate in her qualification, especially in the rapid round, the format of the final. She did not begin well but came back from seventh to second with a perfect five in the fifth series, as the elimination started.
Last week, she had carved her own destiny with the weapon of choice when she shot two medals at the Chateauroux Shooting ranges, some 300 km away from Paris, the host city. The anticipation on Saturday was huge. Every time she stepped in the final range, she came out with a medal. Saturday was a bit different though. She finished fourth. Margins were very thin. Maybe it was nerves, at last, but she exited the stage in the cruelest spot in sports.
During the qualification she had a series of shots, that shooters could only dream of. The performance was a testament to her years of hard work and strong mind – a trait she has developed over the years. The Tokyo blunders have made her stronger.
"Fourth position does not feel amazing, but there’s always a next time," said Manu after the final. "Certainly, there’s going to be a next time for me. There’s lots of motivation to work harder for the next time so that I can try and give a better finish to India."
Manu said she had been braver this time. And one thing that stood out was her confidence. “One thing different that was very prominent with my performances and behaviour was confidence. In Tokyo, I was not confident at all. I was kind of scared about everything. This time I feel much more confident and mature. And a major part of that will be my coach.”
And if she keeps growing stronger like she has done over the past four years, there's no predicting what astounding piece of history she will create in Los Angeles.
