“I want to do well in those events [Asian Games followed by World Championships] but, frankly speaking, I am mainly thinking about competing in the next competition and not about medals. Pressure is there, but it’s there everywhere,” the shooter from Jhajjar, Haryana told PTI.

The teenager will compete in 10m air pistol, 25m sports pistol, and mixed air pistol at the Asian Games. Earlier, veteran shooter Heena Sidhu had hit out at the National Rifle Association of India saying that the federation was bending rules to favour some people with little reference to the Haryana girl. Bhaker stated that she has not been affected by the controversies surrounding her selection in all three pistol events for the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Jakarta and Palembeng from August 18. 

Earlier this year, she claimed an individual gold medal in her first senior World Cup appearance in Mexico, becoming the youngest Indian shooter to finish top of the podium. She repeated the gold-medal winning feat at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast as well. Given her heroics, there certainly would be high expectations from her and Bhaker stated that she has worked on her game, but also pointed out that one cannot shoot well all the time.  

“My body is recovering now after months of training and competition. I will be off to Bhopal for a junior camp on August 1, having just come back from a senior camp,” she said.