Double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker has confirmed that she will continue to work with Jaspal Rana as her coach, despite his new appointment as the High Performance trainer for the pistol discipline by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
Rana, a four-time Asian Games gold medallist, had a highly publicized fallout with Bhaker ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, but they reconciled before the Paris Games. It was under Rana’s guidance that Bhaker made an exceptional comeback and achieved historic success, winning two bronze medals in the 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team events.
Speaking after receiving the BBC Sportswomen of the Year 2024 award, Bhaker reaffirmed her loyalty to Rana. “Honestly, I only have to say one thing—he is my coach. He is very, very talented, and he has been a great coach for me,” said Bhaker. “Of course, he can be anyone else’s coach as well, but for me, he is my coach.”
Bhaker’s remarkable performance in Paris was a testament to the strength of their partnership. She became the first Indian to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics since Independence, thanks in large part to Rana’s mentorship.
Looking ahead, Bhaker outlined her plans for the upcoming season. “We will be going for World Cups in April, and then we have some domestic competitions in June. After that, we will head to another World Cup in Munich, followed by the World Championships, probably in late October or November. My target is the World Championships. I want to peak at the right time for it,” she said.
The World Championships, scheduled to take place in Cairo, Egypt, from November 6-16, are a key event in Bhaker’s calendar for 2025.
After a break to recover from a sore elbow, Bhaker returned to competitive shooting earlier this month. She finished second behind Rhythm Sangwan in the National trials but expressed satisfaction with her performance. “It was a pretty decent comeback. I am satisfied with what I have achieved in the trials,” she said.
Although Rana now serves as the High Performance coach for the NRAI, Bhaker considers him a father figure and continues to trust his guidance in her pursuit of further success in the sport.
