‘Just do what you have to do,’ recalls Manu Bhaker, who read the Bhagavad Gita and was inspired to win a medal – Firstpost

Indian shooter Manu Bhaker on Sunday revealed how the Bhagavad Gita played a crucial role in her winning a medal at the Paris Olympics. Bhaker, 22, created history by becoming the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal, winning bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event in Paris. In doing so, she also became the fifth Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal.

India at Paris Olympics LIVE, Day 2 Update

“Honestly, I have read a lot of Gita. So what was going through my mind was, do what you are supposed to do. Just do what you are supposed to do and let it go. Whatever destiny is, you cannot control the outcome. So, in Gita, Krishna tells Arjun that you have to focus on your karma and not the outcome of karma. So, that’s all that was going through my mind. I was like, ‘Just do your thing, just do your thing and let it go’,” Bhaker told state broadcasters. Sports18 after winning bronze.

Manu Bhaker shares his thought process during the grueling 10m pistol final!

Watch more Olympic action live on #Sports18 & stream for FREE on #JioCinema#Paris2024 #OlympicsonJioCinema #OlympicsonSports18 #JioCinemaSports #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/bdR1NBLlcg

— Sports18 (@Sports18) July 28, 2024

Paris Olympics: news, schedule, medal tally and more

The Haryana-born athlete had suffered a heartbreak at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics three years ago after her pistol malfunctioned and she ultimately missed out on a medal at the time. She had also missed out on qualifying in the 10m pistol and 25m pistol mixed team events, which was a major setback.

Also read: Who is Manu Bhaker, Indian bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics?

Bhaker recalled the “surreal” experience of winning a medal for India at the Olympics. “I feel great. It was a medal that India had been waiting for a long time. I was just about to win it. And India deserves more, more medals, as many as possible. So we are looking forward to as many events as we can this time. And the whole team has worked really hard and personally, for me, the feeling is really surreal,” she said.

“I feel like I did a good job. I put in a lot of effort and till the last time, I fought with all the energy I had. And, uh, it was a bronze medal. But I am really grateful that I was able to win a bronze medal for India, maybe a better one next time,” Manu added.

On Sunday, Manu scored 221.7 points in the final held at the Châteauroux Shooting Centre in Paris. She struggled at the start but recovered well to finish third, behind South Korean shooters Oh Ye Jin and Kim Ye-Ji.

Manu Bhaker’s mother Sumedha was delighted with her daughter’s bronze medal in Paris and looked forward to welcoming her home.

“I am really happy with the love people have shown to Manu. I would like to thank people. I am eagerly waiting for him to come home,” Sumedha said CNN News18.

Manu’s mother credited her daughter’s coach Jaspal Rana for helping her overcome her challenges. After parting ways due to “irreconcilable differences” in the run-up to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the two reunited ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. “Jaspal sir has helped Manu a lot,” Sumedha added.

She added that she wanted Manu to become a doctor, but that changed when Manu started shooting at the shooting range in her hometown Jhajjar. “I wanted Manu to become a doctor first. Manu started shooting at the shooting range in Jhajjar school. Anil Jakhar was her first coach. He told us that she would do really well in shooting,” her mother added.

The proud mother of the young Olympic shooter said she has several medals won by Manu in her house. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government and the central government for their support. “I have so many medals of Manu in our house,” she said. “I would like to thank the Prime Minister, the state government and the central government for their support,” Sumedha commented.