Name: Manu Bhaker.
From: Goria village, Jhajjar, Haryana.
Discipline: Pistol shooting, air pistol and sports pistol.
Education: Studying in Class XI at Universal Senior Secondary School, Goria.
Beginning: Bhaker got a taste of many sports — basketball, boxing, karate, kabaddi, kho kho, skating and tennis — before developing an interest in shooting in her school, which is run by her family. She first tried her hand at shooting on April 24, 2016. Her father Ramkishan then bought her first pistol in May that year after extracting a promise that she would stick to the sport for at least two years. Manu, who tended to lose interest quickly, stuck to this one! Her first competition was the Haryana state championships in June 2016, followed by the North Zone tournament.
Three coaches in the school — Suresh Kumar, Naresh Kumar and Anil Kumar — had taught her by turns. In December 2017, Manu beat the former World Cup Finals champion and world record holder Heena Sidhu to win the national gold in the air pistol in a field of 248 shooters. She also won the junior and youth gold medals to announce her arrival on the national stage. Manu now has four air pistols and two sports pistols, thanks to a bunch of world-class performances.
READ | Manu Bhaker among 16 shooters named for TOPS support
Aim: To win the Olympic gold is Manu’s ultimate goal — to hear the national anthem and see the national flag go up in the Olympic arena while being watched by the whole universe. She also wants to be a doctor, but her second aim could get delayed as her board examinations could clash with the World Cup to be held in Delhi in February. Winning an Olympic quota will be her priority and her education may take a temporary back seat.
Strong point: Manu is very dedicated and works hard when she puts her mind on a target. She learns fast and improves quickly. “You cannot always win, but you can always try your best,” is the mantra that has driven her to world-class performances. When she does not win, as was the case at the Asian Games and the World Championships, she sits alone and analyses. She’s also self-motivated and self-reliant, and doesn’t require much prodding to see reason. Plus, there’s her pleasant personality and winning smile.
READ: Manu Bhaker aims to secure Olympic quota place
What they say: Father Ramkishan Bhaker, who worked in the Merchant Navy, runs schools with his wife Sumedha. “I had a vision to help develop an all-round personality of the students in our schools. We had started a shooting range in the school in 2010. If you do it for everyone, your kid will automatically benefit.” In addition to providing quality education and honing sporting talent, he focuses on developing good character and a strong personality.
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