Top Indian scorer Manu Bhaker on Sunday indicated that not allowing the freedom to take her personal coach Jaspal Rana in major international competitions could hamper her performance and requested the NRAI to resolve the issue. Legendary pistol shooter Rana recently reunited with Bhaker after the much-publicized split two years ago ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Rana is now working with the multiple World Championship gold medalist to help her secure an Olympic quota place in Paris in 2024 and win medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
But the National Rifle Association of India’s (NRAI) policy of not allowing personal coaches to accompany shooters at international competitions is something that has been a sore point for several marksmen for a long time.
“I hope this situation will be resolved soon. I have made a request that he (Rana) can accompany me to big competitions like the quota competitions or the World Championships and all these…big events at least,” Manu told PTI on the sidelines of a farewell meeting organized for the shooting team for the Asian Games.
The Asian Games in Hangzhou start on September 23.
However, Manu, who recently missed Rana at the World Championships in Baku, hoped the issue would be resolved soon.
“Most likely it will be resolved. I think Kalikesh (Singdeo, NRAI president) is really supportive and he has helped me in certain situations.
“Even the team coaches are very coordinating (cooperative), but I believe my best performance lies only with my (personal) coach. That is why we are reunited,” added Manu, the winner of nine World Cup gold medals in individual and team events.
Asked about the key areas Rana was working on to improve her performance, Manu said the multiple Asian Games gold medalist’s ability to “distract me in a positive way” was something no other coach could do.
“He (Rana) just knows how to work with me. He’s been working with me since I was a kid and he just knows the tricks and the things that can distract me in a positive way, like taking my mind off things that bother me So I think he knows the secret (to making me a better shooter).
“Anything that takes my attention away from my technique, I always discuss it with him. Everything, like the exams coming up or maybe I had a fight with someone, so it’s like I talk to him about everything.
“He calms me down easily or just gives me a solution or tells me what to do, what is the right thing to do,” added Manu, who will compete in the 25 meters sporting pistol event at the Asian Games.
Manu had competed in three pistol events during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta but could not win a medal. The Haryana shooter said she will try to give her best performance in Hangzhou.
“The expectations from the Asian Games will always remain the same. I will try to give the best performance within my capabilities, and the best I can do for the Indian shooting team and the Indian contingent. So the aim would be the same – to be in the best shape and be able to do my best.
Manu added that she would continue to train and compete in both the 10m and 25m pistol events and give equal importance to both even as she competes in the 25m pistol event at the Asian Games.
“As much as I love my other events (10m air pistol), I also love 25m…I would like to shoot 10m, I would also try my best at 25m,” she added.
The champion shooter hopes to secure an Olympic quota place in Paris at the Asian Championships in Changwon, South Korea, which will take place after the Asian Games.
“I think it (Asian Championships) will be a great competition and the entire shooting team, including myself, we are all prepared and really looking forward to the quota placing event.” Will the pistol even haunt her at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which likely cost her a place in the 10m air pistol final? Manu said it was one of those days where it just happened, adding that she has “complete confidence” in her equipment.
“I think when you compete you have to have complete confidence in your equipment and your abilities.
“If you have even the slightest confidence problems, I don’t think you are ready to shoot in the competition, so you have to have complete confidence in everything possible, your equipment, yourself, your coach and the whole team.” The champion shooter believes the lessons she learned as an elite athlete will help her when she is done with the sport.
“I have completed my bachelor’s degree in political science. Now I am studying public administration at Punjab University, so I am taking all political subjects like international relations, Indian governance and things like that.
“The experience I gain while traveling, dealing with different people, different backgrounds, different countries, cultures… that certainly counts. I believe you have to have something in addition (to fall back on).
“If you pay so much attention to one specific thing, it will probably confuse your mind. So having two things is fortunate for me and I enjoy it.”
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