Manu Bhaker going through the grind

Pressure of expectation will be intense for every Indian athlete who will be representing the country in the postponed Tokyo Olympics next July.

As the shooters returned to the national camp in the Capital last month, there were mixed feelings. Bang in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the virus refusing to go away, athletes have learnt to adapt, be more careful. At the same time, they know the new normal is different and one has to get used to it.

Young Manu Bhaker, at just over 18, is handling the pressure of expectation situation quite well. There was  a bit of a scare for the second year student of LSR College when she had hurt her leg while playing fun basketball recently.

However, the girl from Jhajjar who spends more time closer to the Karni Singh Ranges in Faridabad, is readying for the second camp. After the Diwali break, the shooters and coaches have returned to the Capital. With Covid-19 cases in the city and the entire National Capital Region spiking, the shooters have had to undergo compulsory home or hotel quarantine for one week.

Manu is fit, motivated and handles a decent work load. of over three hours  daily at the ranges. Not one to be easily satisfied, Manu begins her day with Yoga, which is compulsory, then starts her shooting. During the lockdown, she was able to only shoot the 10-metre event at home.

On return to ranges, she is mixing her training, which is the 10 metres ranges for air pistol as well as the 25-metres sports pistol events. She could also be in the fray for the mixed events at the Olympics.  At a time when many Indian athletes are still wary of training and competition, notably the wrestlers, Manu goes about her job methodically.

Her father Ramkisha Bhaker says she may soon utilise the services of a mind trainer, which has come after advice from coach Jaspal Rana. It is well known all the elite athletes get full support from the TOPS  (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) of the Indian government. Depending on how soon a mind trainer is found, Manu may start using the services of one.

In India, there has been a general reluctance to avail the services of a mind trainer. Celebrity athletes like Abhinav Bindra and Leander Paes never hesitated in using mind trainers, so for a young shooter like Manu to also do the same will be interesting.

It is one thing to train and quite another to have a mind trainer help the athlete out. Competing in Tokyo in 2021 will be very different,  a first of sorts for all athletes. Assuming the athletes get to take the vaccine jab, they will still be under tight protocols as being envisaged by the International Olympic Committee.

As regards mixing shooting and also studying, Manu has been able to do justice to both.