Manu Bhaker sets sights on 2028 LA Olympics, targets gold
Manu Bhaker, the first Indian woman to win two medals at an Olympics edition, has set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The ace shooter shared her future aspirations during an interactive session at the 2024 Economic Times's World Leaders Forum (ETWLF). Currently on a break from shooting, Bhaker expressed her ambition to secure gold at the 2028 LA Olympics.
Bhaker eyes an elusive Olympic gold
Bhaker revealed her future plans at the ETWLF 2024, stating, "For me the target will be the journey to gold in the Olympic games, so the next thing will be LA for me." She further added that she is currently enjoying a short break after over eight years of continuous involvement in her sport. This break will last nearly four months before she resumes training for LA 2028.
Take on balancing sports and studies
Bhaker emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between sports, studies, and hobbies. She believes that this balanced approach has significantly contributed to her successful career. "Everything is really important, you can't be like just sports or just activities, or just studies, it should be a balance in life," she said during the forum discussion.
Perspective on the challenges of shooting
When asked about the potential loneliness and challenges associated with shooting, Bhaker responded positively. She finds motivation in her sport and sets short-term goals for each competition. "In beginning shooting can be really boring for some people but once you start to get a hold of it, I am sure it's really interesting for a hobby also," she stated.
Bhaker's historic achievements at Paris Olympics
Shooter Manu opened India's account at the Paris Games on July 28. She won the bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol final. Manu became India's first-ever female shooter with an Olympic medal. She won another bronze medal along with Sarabjot Singh in the air pistol mixed team event. The former became India's first-ever athlete with multiple medals at an Olympics post independence.
