"Made a fake profile to defend PV Sindhu from some haters' comments": History-maker Manu Bhaker reveals | Paris Olympics 2024
A pistol malfunction in the qualification rounds coupled with some underwhelming performances ended up defining Manu Bhaker's maiden Olympic appearance three years ago. After the disappointment in Tokyo, India's entire shooting contingent, along with the then 19-year-old Manu, was subjected to intense criticism for months.
The faceless trolls had almost succeded in pushing away the ace shooter from the discipline she had dedicated her life to. But Bhaker conjured the courage to grandest stage yet again, and not let her career and story be penned down by the detractors. Now, the prodigal daughter of Harayana, at the tender age of 22, stands as one of the most decorated Olympians in the country's history.
A day after clinching her maiden Bronze medal in the women's 10-meter Air Pistol event, Manu Bhaker, paired up with Sarabjot Singh, stood on the podium yet again to collect her third-place honor for the mixed event in the same category. Manu, independent India’s only athlete to win two medals at the same Olympics, found the perfect response to all the trolls - deliver a performance of a lifetime.
But apparently, she hasn't always been her choice of response to hate comments on social media, especially when it came to her idol PV Sindhu. In an interview with Sportstar after winning her second Bronze medal in Paris, Bhaker revealed that she had once resorted to creating a fake social media profile to respond to hate comments regarding India's badminton star.
"There was this one time when I made a fake profile to defend Sindhu from some haters' comments. I was so triggered, so I defended her," Manu Bhaker said.
"Have to work hard honestly, stay honest with yourself" - Manu Bhaker's inspiring message for the next generation
History-maker Manu Bhaker's heroics have already ignited a wave of widespread adulation and admiration for her and the entire shooting contingent. It wouldn't be a surprise if her Paris double inspires a wave of youngsters to worship and dedicate their lives to the discipline of shooting.
What's Manu Bhaker's message to the next generation? She responded during the same interview:
"For the next generation, I would like to tell them you have to be confident. You have to work hard honestly, stay honest with yourself, keep working hard, keep going. Success if not in one Olympics, like me in Tokyo, then in the other Olympics in Paris, will be there for you."
Meanwhile, Bhaker will return to action on August 2 in the 25m pistol event, and will be eyeing a hattrick of medals.