Shooter Manu Bhaker's mother, Sumedha Bhaker, expressed her immense happiness after her daughter made history at the Paris Olympics. "I always tell Manu that it is crucial to eat and sleep well. I advise her to be happy and to share any problems with me first," she said.
Sumedha Bhaker highlighted the pivotal role of Jaspal Sir's guidance in Manu's success. "I am very happy because my daughter has received the support and guidance of Jaspal Sir. Today, Manu has done wonders," she added. Sumedha mentioned reading a report that praised the Guru-Shishya tradition, which filled her with joy.
Manu's mother has not watched her daughter's matches since 2018
Interestingly, Sumedha has not watched her daughter's matches since 2018. She chooses to keep her mind focused elsewhere during Manu's competitions.
At the Paris Olympics, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh secured a bronze medal in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event. Manu Bhaker made history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic edition.
She won an individual bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event and decided to postpone celebrations to remain focused on her upcoming events. She narrowly missed the gold medal match by just one point, finishing third in the mixed team event qualification with Sarabjot. Reflecting on her performance, she told her father, "It was just because of one wrong shot."
Manu's dedication to her game
Manu's dedication to her game is evident. Despite the prospect of winning double medals at the same Games, she remains focused on improving her scores. "She couldn't reach the gold medal match, so she was saying one shot was not good... let's hope she does even better in the coming events," said her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker.
First, I will visit the Gurudwara: Sarabjot Singh's father
Sarabjot Singh's father, Jitender Singh, also expressed his joy after his son and Manu won the bronze medal. "Heartiest congratulations to Manu Bhaker and her family. We are delighted...First, I will visit the Gurudwara and pay obeisance...There will be celebrations in our village," Jitender Singh said.
Gaurav Saini, Sarabjot Singh's Assistant Coach, praised his ward's discipline and determination. “It feels great. The entire nation is proud of them. They have reached this stage and won Bronze with great hard work…Sarabjot has worked hard to win all the medals he has bagged so far…He is very disciplined,” he remarked.
The Indian pair earned their bronze medal by defeating the Korean duo of Lee Wonoho and Oh Yeh Jin with a score of 16-10. This victory marked India's second medal at the Paris Olympics, highlighting the exceptional talent and perseverance of the country's athletes.