Asian Games 2018 | I am not thinking about medals, only about competing : Manu Bhaker

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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With the Asian Games around the corner, Manu Bhaker, who won gold in her first senior World Cup, has insisted that she doesn’t think about winning medals and only focuses on competing in the next competition. She stated that she doesn’t think about the selections and only concentrates on shooting.

16-year-old Bhaker, who has had a golden run this year with a medal in almost every event she had participated in, has her eye set on the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. Despite the pressure of the big event, Bhaker insisted that she doesn’t think about medals and only has her focus on performing well for the country. 

“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. 

“Main sirfkhelnesematlabrakhti hoon, bas (I am only concerned about my shooting). I am fine if I am picked in three events, if they select me for one event I am fine, and if I am not picked for one, then also I am ok,” she said. “I can’t think about selection. I don’t allow all these things to weigh me down.”

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.  

“In recent times I have worked a lot on the technical aspect, have tried to improve my scores, but you can’t shoot well all the time,” she said.

The Asiad would be followed by the ISSF World Championships from August 31 in South Korea, which would be the first quota event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The teen stated that her preparation for both events has been good.

“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.

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