Manu Bhaker is an Indian woman shooter from Goria village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. She began to represent India at the senior level internationally at the young age of 16 in 2018. She is a rising shooting star.
She won her 1st international medal by clinching Silver at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships followed by winning 9 Gold medals at the 2017 National Games held in Kerala. She defeated 2-time World Cup Gold medallist Heena Sidhu and bettered her national record of 240.8 points by scoring 242.3 points. In the 2018 Asian Games, she set a game’s record score of 593 points in the qualification round of the 25m air pistol event, but she failed to win a medal in the final.
She finished impressively 5th in the Women’s 25m Pistol Qualification Precision Round at the Tokyo Olympics. Manu shot 592 with 9 inner 10s. She opened with a 97 and managed another 97 before finishing off strongly with a 98.
Manu Bhaker won the 2021 BBC Emerging Player of the Year. At a virtual awards ceremony held in March 2021, Manu Bhaker was chosen as the BBC Emerging Player of the Year.
Won 5 medals, including 4 gold medals and 1 bronze at the recently concluded ISSF Junior Shooting World Championship in Lima, Peru. Sher was in scintillating form on Friday (5th November 2021) as she won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Iran’s Javad Foroughi at the ISSF President’s Cup in Wroclaw, Poland. She had won gold in the last edition too, in 2019, with Chernousov. The tournament was called the World Cup Final back then. Bhaker has been in sterling form post the Olympics.
She has won the Arjuna awardee in 2020. Manu Bhaker won the 2021 BBC Emerging Player of the Year. At a virtual awards ceremony held in March 2021, Manu was chosen as the BBC Emerging Player of the Year.
Check out Manu Bhaker in conversation with WF President, Ms. Namita Nayyar on her sports journey, her victories & shooting!
Namita Nayyar:
Sports has been an inseparable part of you since childhood, share the series of events that led you to take up shooting as a professional sport?
Manu Bhaker:
Few games were left out due to injury and timing and others due to corrupt systems and corrupt judgments. And also study compulsion kept me changing games.
Namita Nayyar:
You became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in the Women’s 10-meter air pistol, defeating Mexico’s Alejandra Zavala, a two-time champion. Share your experience at the competition and the memory that stayed with you?
Manu Bhaker:
I generally remain focused and don’t bother about big names. I was very happy after hearing that, I am youngest Indian with the title.
Namita Nayyar:
At the Youth Olympics 2018, you shot 236.5 to stand at the top of the points table in the women’s 10m air pistol event and were The Indian flag bearer at the opening ceremony. Relate two everlasting memories of the event.
Manu Bhaker:
I shoot below par and 236.5 was not good enough as per my past record. But I won Gold and Silver and was very proud as I was chosen INDIAN FLAG BEARER one of my dreams come true.
Namita Nayyar:
5 key essentials to excel in shooting as a sport?
Manu Bhaker:
Hard work, dedication, discipline, target, focus, and luck.
Namita Nayyar:
Share Your daily fitness routine while training for competition or during the off-season? How do you like to kick start your day?
Manu Bhaker:
Same routine, starting with yoga, every day.
Namita Nayyar:
Diet routine you like to stick by? 5 foods that are a must in your diet. Supplements if you take any?
Manu Bhaker:
Dry fruit and seasonal fruit… no supplements
Namita Nayyar:
You are a part of the Olympic team and have been selected for the 10 m air pistol category, congratulations on the same. Share The motivation behind your reason to excel. Who is your role model?
Manu Bhaker:
Myself is my role model. I will win Olympic medals One-Day for sure… this is what I believe and I will leave no stone unturned.
Namita Nayyar:
Message for your fans & WF followers.
Manu Bhaker:
Enjoy your choice of sport and be happy with the results. You will get what you work for not your desire
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