Manu Bhaker drew inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita ahead of her Paris Olympics medal-clinching shot: "Focus on the karma, not the outcome"
Still 19 years old in 2021, Manu Bhaker was in tears after a pistol malfunction in the qualifications at the Tokyo Olympics. Days after the disappointment in her debut Games, the Indian shooter couldn't even meet her pistol eye to eye. But on Sunday, July 28, in front of an expectant crowd, the 22-year-old broke an ominous jinx that had enveloped India's shooting contingent.
After her staggering 10.1 hit in the 21st shot, Bhaker had moved up to the silver position, a point ahead of Korea's Kim Ye-ji. Despite an improved 10.3 in her final attempt, Manu fell behind Ye-ji, who conjured a staggering 10.5 score out of thin air.
While once the euphoria subdues there might be some pondering over what could've been, Manu Bhaker scripted history as she clinched a statement bronze medal in the women's 10-meter Air Pistol event.
But with all the overpouring emotions of a possible redemption arc unfolding in front of her, how did the youngster hold her nerves to produce a string of consistent scores? Well, she answered during a post-match interaction with JioCinema.
"I read a lot of Gita, and so what was going through my mind is, do what you're meant to do, and forget everything else. The destiny you can't control. In Gita, Krishna told Arjun to focus on the Karma and not the outcome of the karma, and that was running through my head," she said.
Manu Bhaker's Olympic debut was more of a baptism by fire. However, now she stands as the first-ever Indian woman to bag an Olympic medal in shooting and the fifth Indian to win an Olympic medal in the discipline. She can probably walk up to the teen Manu of 2021 and tell her it will all turn out fine.
"After Tokyo, I was very disappointed. How the team events turned out wasn't good; it took me a long time to overcome that. However, I came back stronger. What matters is now; let the past remain in the past," she said after her maiden medal in the Games.
"Glad I could win a medal for India, maybe do even better next time" - Manu Bhaker after her Paris Olympics success
There's a thing about champions, their thirst is never quenched. Beyond the highs, beyond the agonizing despair, Manu Bhaker has always been a champion. Whether she's eyeing the bullseye, facing the mic, or standing out as a sore thumb against a system that hounded for her misfortunes in Tokyo, the 22-year-old has always reeked of being a champion.
While expressing her euphoria after winning her first medal for the country, she underlined her aspirations to climb the podium steps again and soon.
"I feel great. It was a long-due medal for India and I was merely a mode to do it. India deserves even more medals. We're looking forward to as many events as possible this time. The entire team has worked very hard. Personally, for me, the feeling is really surreal. Even till the last shot I was fighting with all the energy I had. This is a Bronze medal, but I'm glad I could win a medal for India, maybe do even better next time," she concluded.
She might just be in luck. Bhaker still has two events left to compete in: the mixed 10-meter air pistol and the 25-meter pistol - starting tomorrow. And with her hunger, and the staggering wind of River Seine powering her sails, the 22-year-old might eclipse her own heroics soon.