Being called the 'national crush' is just a phase: Manu Bhaker
The Olympic bronze medallist and her coach Jaspal Rana were guest speakers at the recent India Today Conclave Mumbai
by Suhani Singh · India TodayManu Bhaker is everywhere and she is loving every bit of the attention and adulation coming her way. Bhaker’s HERculean effort, which saw her win two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, has made her not just India’s most popular shooter but also earned her the label of “national crush”.
At the recently concluded India Today Conclave Mumbai, the 22-year-old pistol shooter was joined by coach Jaspal Rana as they recounted the long journey to make it to the podium at Paris. And they aren’t done yet. The dream for gold continues.
Q. What do you make of being called the national crush?
A. It keeps changing every now and then. Every second month, they are like ‘this is the new crush’. This is just a phase.
Q. How has life changed post the Paris Olympic medals?
A. It is going to be the same. As soon as I go back to the shooting arena, it will be. At times, it will be difficult as my coach (Jaspal Rana) reminds me. Now that people know me, they will want more—more medals and better performance at every stage. But then what’s good in doing easy things? Right now, I am getting the opportunity of meeting different people every single day. It is exciting to know their story and share mine as well.
Q. How did you deal with the criticism that Manu is showing off her medals everywhere she goes?
A. It took me eight and a half years to win those medals for India. They belong to the country, and they are with me for the entire life. People ask to see the medals and to get them along. Candid pictures are clicked and posted on the internet.
Q. As you have said, it’s not overnight success, for you have toiled to reach here. Is there a lull now, like what do I do and what will motivate me going forward?
A. The dream of the Olympic gold continues. Two bronze is a step in the right direction. Right now, I am enjoying the outfit phase—getting to wear different clothes and new things every day, which is very exciting.
Q. What are your other interests?
A. There are different dance forms. I am learning the violin. There’s horseback riding. I love spending time doing fitness activities like gym and runs. There’s painting and sketching and laying in the sun and solving puzzles and watching TV.
Q. Jaspal Rana is known to be a taskmaster. Are there any days when you wish you didn’t have him as coach?
A. I’d never skip a training session ever. In fact, I would plead with him that I want to shoot more and train more. But there are days when I’d be really tired and need this break and be able to take a day off. He’d be like, ‘This is totally your call and you should be aware that if you skip a session, it might give you a disadvantage on your Olympic day match. You might learn something very valuable today, which will really help you in Olympics Games’. I’d sigh and be like ‘Urgh, let’s go’.
Q. Tell us about this innovative training technique where you had to give a fine every time your performance dipped.
A. We had these tasks at almost every single training session. He’d ask me to set a score goal, like say 580/600. After that he’d be like what would your task be if you didn’t meet it. So if I scored less, he’d make me donate some money to charity or give it to friends. Sometimes he’d make me shop for people I don’t like.
Q. Has the world of Bollywood ever attracted you?
A. My thing is shooting. Little bit of acting here and there doesn’t hurt anyone. But my main thing will always be sport. Maybe the shooting part I can do.
Q. If there was a film made on you, who’d you like to play Manu Bhaker on screen?
A. By the time a film was made on me, there will be many more people in the industry. I think I need more years in my career to get a biopic made.