Bhaker to write BA exams while shooting in European Championship
Inside her hotel room in the Croatian capital Zagreb, India's Olympic medal hope Manu Bhaker is juggling shooting-related activities and studies. However, a day before the Tokyo-bound Indian shooting contingent hits the range for its first training session, Bhaker's pistol will give way to a pen and the shooting gear to her study materials, as she logs in for her BA fourth semester examinations.
Her exams start two days before the European Championship begins
A student of political science in the Delhi University's prestigious Lady Shri Ram College for Women, the champion shooter's exams start on May 18 while the European Championship in Osijek, in which the Indian team will compete as a guest invitee, begins two days later, from May 20. The continental tournament and Bhaker's exams will run almost concurrently.
Her events are not clashing with her exam dates
However, she is relieved that the dates of her events are not clashing with the papers. "I will manage both, as I have done in the past. At least I don't have competition on days I have my papers, so it's manageable," said Bhaker. While Bhaker considers studies important, shooting competitions are a priority in India's biggest medal hopes at the Tokyo Olympics.
It's shooting over studies for her: Bhaker's father
"This is the year of the Olympics and I am fully focused on how to give my best and do my country proud," said Bhaker, a gold medalist at the Youth Olympics, ISSF World Cup, and Commonwealth Games. Her father, Ramkishan Bhaker, added, "She is very serious about her studies but in a clash between her competition and exams, she chooses sports."
Bhaker will represent India in three events at Tokyo
Along with the ammunition, shooting gear, and coronavirus-related travel essentials, Bhaker traveled to Croatia with her books to prepare for the exams and will send her answers using the mobile scanner after she has written them all. The 19-year-old Bhaker has been selected for three events in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8.
Indian shooters will also compete in the ISSF World Cup
She will be fielded in both the women's 25m pistols alongside the experienced Rahi Sarnobat and in her pet 10m air pistol event with Yashaswini Singh Deswal. Bhaker will also represent India in the mixed team 10m pistol along with Saurabh Chaudhary. Additionally, the Indian shooters will compete in the ISSF World Cup, slated to be held in the same city, Osijek.
Olympic-bound Indian shooters landed in Zagreb on Tuesday
The 13 Olympic-bound Indian shooters, seven coaches, five physios, and a two-member video crew landed in Zagreb in a chartered flight on Tuesday, after which they were received by the Croatian shooting federation and the country's world number three rifle shooter Peter Gorsa.
