Manu Bhaker looked like a trailblazer, then became one

The first edition of the reinstated Sportstar Aces Awards, held on February 15, 2019, witnessed an unfiltered yet endearing moment when Manu Bhaker, then a prodigious talent, stepped onto the stage.

Fresh from the rigours of a day-long training session and a four-hour journey, Manu found herself at a rare loss for words. Named Young Athlete of the Year (girl), she could only manage a sheepish smile and the words, “I don’t know what to say. I didn’t even change my clothes or go to the washroom.”

The sincerity of the 16-year-old pistol shooter’s confession not only drew ripples of laughter across the ceremony hall but also instantly endeared her to all present.

Fast forward nearly six years, and Manu’s life remains as hectic as ever. Coincidentally, she finds herself at the same hotel in Mumbai, attending the same function.

Once again, she arrived directly from the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi. This time, however, she manages to squeeze in 10 minutes to freshen up before her name is called out — twice.

First, International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah presents her with the Sportstar of the Year (Female) award, followed by the Sportswoman of the Year (Olympic Sports) honour.

“I thought I might get one award, but receiving two is an absolute honour. Receiving even one award is special, but two feel like the ultimate recognition. I’m glad to be part of this evening and to have Sportstar give me two trophies. So yeah, that’s super nice,” Manu later says, grinning from ear to ear while seated on a plush sofa in her suite.

It has taken fire and frost to shape Manu into the athlete she is today. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, an equipment malfunction, the pressures of the grandest stage, and the sport’s inherent unpredictability conspired against her.

However, strengthened by the scars of that emotional battle and with a renewed hunger to reclaim her place among the elite, Manu became independent India’s first athlete to win two medals (bronze in 10-metre air pistol and 10-metre air pistol mixed team) in a single edition of the Olympic Games in Paris. She also became only the second Indian female athlete to secure multiple Olympic medals after badminton ace P. V. Sindhu.

Social media erupted in celebration, television news channels looped her podium moments endlessly, newspapers and magazines hailed the young markswoman, and sponsorship deals poured in as an entire nation swelled with pride. Yet, through all the adulation, Manu remains grounded and effervescent.

“It’s not like I’m very famous or anything. Nowadays, when people recognise me, they tend to be very helpful. And sometimes, I really need that help. The downside is I tend to have long conversations. Some turn out to be very long, and I miss commitments,” she laughs.

Manu had come agonisingly close to another bronze medal in the 25m sports pistol. When the curtains fell on the ‘Rapid’ qualification round, only Veronika Major of Hungary had a better score than Manu. It was Major again who edged out the Indian in a shoot-off for bronze in the final, registering an extra hit (10.2-plus shot).

When asked how much she would hypothetically pay to retake the deciding shot, she smiles wryly before saying, “I am a very practical person, and I know that no amount of money or anything else can take me back in time. So, I’m just going to focus on the present and work towards better results in the future.”

It is difficult to miss Manu in a crowd. Selfie and autograph hunters are drawn to her like moths to a flame. Yet, the Jhajjar-born athlete obliges everyone without hesitation.

“Honestly, I try to accommodate every request. Sometimes it gets really difficult, but I do my best,” she says.

Just when one begins to appreciate the maturity beyond her years, a remark serves as a fleeting reminder of how young she actually is. “I try to enjoy every moment because YOLO (you only live once),” the 22-year-old (at the time of the interview) says, explaining how she is balancing her newfound fame while preparing to return to competition after an extended break.

“Yes, it was a little difficult to manage all the travelling. But getting back to training? Not so much. I love sports. And as long as someone loves what they do, I don’t think it’s difficult for them to return to it. I was waiting for this. I wanted to resume competitive shooting.”

It never seemed as if Manu had been away for seven months as she breezed through February’s open selection trials to comfortably secure a spot on the Indian team headed to Argentina and Peru for the season-opening ISSF World Cups in April.

Having recorded the best qualifying average (based on the top four scores in 13 designated competitions) in the 25m sports pistol, she placed second in the 10m air pistol behind Suruchi Singh, who hails from a neighbouring village in Haryana.

Her cheerful demeanour outside the range stands in stark contrast to her focussed, no-nonsense approach within it. She flits between these alternating personas with remarkable ease.

“I am generally a happy, positive person. But I do sulk a lot as well. My friends help me come out of it. However, when I’m at the range, if someone disrupts my training, it really annoys me.”

When the conversation shifts to Indian shooting, Manu listens intently before adding: “Shooting is going to grow immensely in India because we are naturally disciplined and possess great knowledge of focus, meditation, and yoga. These things help a lot.”

For her own goals, Manu has decided to prioritise fitness in 2025 rather than focus on specific competitions. “This season, my primary goal is to be very fit. Then, I’ll sit down with my coach to plan for the competitions we want to target. We also have the World Championships later this year.”

This decision is influenced by a persistent elbow issue that has troubled her for some time.

Manu has made minor adjustments to her shooting equipment to aid in her rehabilitation. She explains, “There will be some changes to my gear now. We already made some modifications to the grips right after the Olympics.

Certain angles were putting too much strain on my arm. I’ve had multiple injuries, and even now, we are trying to find the best-suited equipment, grips, posture, and stance. The aim is to minimise injuries in the long run.”

A journey towards peak fitness begins with an athlete’s diet, and Manu is conscious of this aspect.

“I always try to eat home-cooked food. My mum almost always travels with me during training or competitions. Staying fit should be a principle in life. When your body is healthy, your focus improves, and you feel more confident. Strength also helps prevent injuries,” she explains.

Despite a lavish spread at the awards ceremony, Manu quietly retreated to her room after the event and ordered broccoli soup and a cup of milk with a dash of honey.

“The cherry on top is that I love doing it (staying fit),” she chirps.

There are other things from which Manu derives pleasure as well. She reads a lot; Dr. Brian Wess’ Many Lives, Many Masters is keeping her occupied these days. Other than that, she has currently taken a liking to Rishab Rikhiram Sharma’s “calming yet strong” sitar instrumentals.

She has also perfected the art of playing the violin and horseriding, two things she turns to after exhausting sessions at the range.

As the car designated to take Manu and her mother to the airport arrives, the chauffeur instantly recognises his illustrious passenger. Within seconds of loading the luggage, he requests a selfie, and Manu smiles and obliges.

Perhaps politely declining is one of the few skills she has yet to master.