India’s medal contender and currently on an impressive run, Manu Bhaker, is on the verge of claiming a medal at the Paris Olympics. She has emerged as one of India’s most trusted and prolific shooters, especially in major events. Recently, on day one of the Paris Olympics, although the entire Indian shooting team did not have a great outing, Bhaker stood out with her individual skills. The 22-year-old successfully qualified for the finals of the women’s 10 meter air pistol event, finishing third with 580 points.
Over the past few years, she has delivered impressive performances, but few know that her success didn’t come easily. Like many athletes, she has faced struggles and controversies that no athlete wants to be involved in. As Manu is set to take the stage by storm, let’s look at the major controversies she has encountered in her remarkable career.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics debacle
Bhaker is currently participating in her second Olympics and is doing a wonderful job in Paris 2024. However, she did not have a good experience during her previous Olympic appearance. That event brought many sour memories and disputes for Bhaker. One of the main issues that came into the spotlight was her failure to meet expectations, with her lack of experience being cited as a central reason for her struggles. Despite her talent, the Tokyo Olympics were Bhaker’s debut at the Games.
The experience of competing in such a high-pressure event can be daunting, and it is possible that the magnitude of the occasion affected her performance. These factors did not sit well with Indian shooting fans.
Also, a pistol malfunction disrupted her rhythm and concentration during the 10 meter air pistol qualification rapid round, further complicating her performance.
Manu Bhaker – Jaspal Rana controversial Split
Although Manu Bhaker and her coach Jaspal Rana are on good terms now, having reunited after two years of separation, there was a time when they split. This separation was a significant event in the Indian shooting community, occurring just before the Tokyo Olympics. The timing and circumstances of the split became a major topic of discussion. There were many reasons for their fallout. One of the primary issues was a disagreement over the number of events Manu should compete in. Rana advocated for focusing on fewer events for better performance, while Manu wanted to compete in multiple events.
Also, there were allegations of favoritism, with claims that Rana was favoring another shooter, Chinki Yadav, over Manu in the 25m pistol event. This led to resentment and mistrust between the coach and athlete.
