An emotional Manu Bhaker opens up on late coach Jaspal Rana, Asian Games misstep

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are her first competitive outing since Rana’s passing and, expectedly, it wasn’t easy for the youngster.

Updated : Sep 23, 2026 17:21 IST , Nagoya - 4 MINS READ

India’s Manu Bhaker reacts after competing in the 10m Air Pistol Women final round during the Asian Games, in Nagoya. | Photo Credit: PTI

Manu Bhaker has had a rough two years since the Paris high, both on and off the range. The 24-year-old has had three 10m and two 25m pistol podium finishes, a far cry from her own high standards, but it’s the sudden death of coach, mentor and father figure Jaspal Rana earlier this year that really broke her.

Since June, Manu, always an introvert, has been even more of a recluse than ever. She has barely interacted with anyone, focussing only on her training and her family and staying away from the spotlight and media. The death of her grandmother recently only made it worse, pushing her further inwards. At the training camp in Bhopal last month, Manu was a loner, travelling between the shooting range and the hotel, talking only when absolutely necessary.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are her first competitive outing since Rana’s passing and, expectedly, it wasn’t easy for the youngster. Talking to the media after her fifth-place finish in the 10m air pistol, Manu began bravely, talking about the match before a mention of Rana finally broke open the shell.

READ | India coach Ronak Pandit: ‘This performance is unpardonable’ after 10m air pistol disappointment

“Of course I miss him, he was the best of the best, the Asian champion. When it came to Asian Games, I think he was the undisputed champion and we were really looking forward to Japan,” she started before getting overwhelmed. Eyes welling up, unable to speak, she walked away, the floodgates finally making way for a torrent of tears gushing down her face.

A disastrous 8.9 on the 8th shot dashed any chances of a podium finish for Manu Bhaker. | Photo Credit: RV MOORTHY

It took a few minutes but she returned and her composure and decision to complete the interaction was perhaps the biggest hat-tip to Rana, ever the professional. Asked if she remembered Rana during the break between qualifying and Finals, she said, “Yes I do remember. It’s not like you remember once or twice, it just stays with you. When a person has been a big part of your life, it just stays, it’s very natural. All the things I remember, most of which is the process.

“He was so adamant on the process always, that any given day, any given point, whenever you shoot, you have to be able to give your best and follow your process. That and a few more things, like life is very unpredictable so live it to the fullest, be kind...,” she smiled through the pain that clearly was still in.

Talk about shooting and Wednesday’s performance brought back a semblance of normality. “I genuinely tried my best and I really feel the performance was significantly better than the challenges I have been facing in my training in Japan. I feel really sorry I was not able to make it to the podium, I hope I will be able to do better,” she said.

The training challenges she mentioned included sunlight which affected her focus during the pre-event training and inability to see the sides but she insisted that she was focussed on the process and most of her shots were as she had planned for them.

“But few shots were not so good,” she admitted, including a disastrous 8.9 on the 8th shot that dashed any chances of a podium finish. “Yes. As much as anyone would like to deny it, yes -- it definitely compromised my chances a lot,” she agreed.

Manu still has a medal chance in the 25m pistol but she will need every bit of both mental and emotional strength to do so. If she manages to do it, it would be the biggest tribute to a proud Rana smiling down.