Finally! India wins the first medal in the Paris Olympics. The bronze came from none other than Manu Bhaker. The Indian shooter wins bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event.
Many might believe that Manu has done the hard work alone to win a medal at the Olympics, but some credit for her success also goes to her coach, Jaspal Rana.
Manu Bhaker has had a love-hate relationship with her coach, Jaspal. Rana, an eight-time medal winner, is currently coaching Bhaker. Their relationship has been a rollercoaster of multiple highs and lows.
Shared success and achievements
Coach Jaspal and rising star Manu joined forces before the 2018 Asian Games, forming a formidable partnership. With Manu’s talent and Jaspal’s expertise, the shooter reached new heights. Under Rana’s guidance, Bhaker won multiple ISSF World Cup medals and clinched Commonwealth Games gold in 2018.
Manu’s high regard for Rana
Manu has always held her coach in high regard. In multiple interviews, she has described Rana not only as her shooting coach but also as a mental coach, fitness coach, yoga coach, father figure, and friend.
Tensions before Tokyo Olympics 2021
The pair was unstoppable leading up to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, but tension began to build a few months before the Games. Their relationship soured for various reasons, which negatively impacted Manu’s performance at the range.
Rana reportedly backed another shooter, Chinki Yadav, over Bhaker for the Tokyo Olympics, further straining their relationship. Manu’s performance declined so significantly that she, a medal hopeful, was eliminated in the qualification round. The split with Rana was later blamed for her struggles.
Rana also faced difficulties, as Chinki Yadav’s performance was below par, and Rana was reportedly unhappy with the outcome.
Reunion and success
Despite the public fallout, Bhaker and Rana reunited in 2023. The duo worked on rebuilding their partnership, and their improved dynamics led to a successful outcome, with Manu securing a medal at the Olympics.
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