Manu Bhaker has a long future ahead of her, says Jaspal Rana

08/23/2018

India's former shooter Jaspal Rana felt happy for Rani Sarnobat, who became the first female shooter from India to win a gold in Asian Games, while he said that Manu Bhaker has a long future ahead of her. Indian shooter Bhaker stood sixth, missing two chances of acquiring a gold in four days.

Manu Bhaker was filled with disappointment as she missed her chances, twice, to achieve a gold in the Asian Games at Jakarta/Palembang in the four days. Having acquired the sixth position, her only consolation was Rahi Sarnobat winning a gold in the shooting.

Manu had scored 593 in the 25m Pistol qualifiers, leaving her just one point behind the world record. Rahi Sarnobat, on the other hand, had finished seventh in the qualifiers. Rahi, with a commendable victory, secured a gold in the finals. It took a lot of effort from her side as she had recently nursed an elbow injury.

“Unless you fall, you don't become stronger for big competition like Olympics and Asian Games. Nobody keeps climbing all the time. What's more important is how you bounce back,” Jaspal Rana told in an interaction with TOI from Palembang.

“I just convinced her to accept defeat as gracefully as she enjoys victory. One has to accept that when you lose, you learn more. It happens in a player’s life, and these are not easy competitions. I am happy she has a Games record in her name. I don't think people even dream of shooting 593,” he added.

Having acquired two World Cup gold and a gold medal at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Manu had developed a positive attitude towards the Asian Games as well. However, she did not qualify for the medal round in 10m air pistol mixed team event with Abhishek Verma followed by her failure in the 25m pistol event.

“These are young kids. Everybody was expecting too much. They have been working hard and get hurt very easily (because) they are in the building stage. You learn to accept defeat along the way. That comes as you grow older,” he said.

“The best part was that our back-up was so good that we won gold. I am very happy for Rahi. She deserved it more than the new kid. Manu has a long future ahead,” Rana added.

As the National Rifle Association of India launched its junior programme, India has accumulated a number of skillful young shooters. Rana is glad of the fact that the country has candidates, who can be trained to reach excellence.

“Now we have a crop, a nursery. When you have a nursery, you can grow a forest. If we have a group (of young shooters), some will win and some will lose. One shooter cannot keep winning all the time,” he said.

Manu Bhaker has a long future ahead of her, says Jaspal Rana

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