Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic bronze medalist in shooting, has described her coach Jaspal Rana as a father figure, emphasizing the profound trust and support he provides. This powerful bond played a pivotal role in her success at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In an interview with PTI, the 22-year-old champion, reflecting on her triumphant performance this year, stated, “I would say he’s like a father to me, and it’s a matter of trust that you put in a person.” Bhaker revealed that Rana’s unwavering support empowers her, particularly in moments of doubt. “He gives me a lot of courage whenever I’m unsure about the situation and my capabilities. He’ll probably slap me, and he’ll be like, ‘you can do it, you trained for it,'” she shared.
Rana, responding to Bhaker’s endearing description, playfully acknowledged the special bond they share: “You have a controversy right here.” He highlighted the unique responsibility he feels towards Bhaker, extending beyond coaching: “My work is to protect her. It is not only coaching. At this level, we cannot teach them how to see or how to pull the trigger. We just need to give that protection even from their own self.”
Bhaker’s Paris 2024 victory is particularly significant, making her the first athlete in post-independence India to secure two bronze medals at the Summer Games. This accomplishment comes after the disheartening Tokyo Olympics experience where her weapon malfunctioned during the 10m air pistol qualification round.
Despite parting ways before the Tokyo Games, the duo reunited and recommitted to their shared goals, proving that adversity can forge an even stronger bond. Discussing the Tokyo experience, Bhaker remarked, “I would like to say about Tokyo that there was nobody to blame…it’s in the past already. Tokyo taught me a lot of things to be prepared in a better manner, more aware of everything, my equipment, my mental health, physical health.”
Rana echoed the sentiment of moving forward, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the present and future: “When we started 14 months back, there was only one request from my side to her: that we will not discuss the past. We’ll start from here, and we’ll move forward. So we kept that thing throughout.”
The story of Manu Bhaker and Jaspal Rana exemplifies the powerful synergy between a coach and athlete, where trust, resilience, and a shared commitment to excellence pave the way for remarkable achievements.
