NEW DELHI: Pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, who created history with two Olympic medals in Paris earlier this year, has resumed training but won’t be playing the National Championships next month.
Manu and her personal coach Jaspal Rana are currently in Europe for grip modification.
“Right now we are working on grips. It was pre-decided that we will come here (Europe) for that,” said Rana talking to Timesofindia.com from Germany.
“There are a lot of things we have to work on, nothing much I can say now. I will say whatever we are doing, it is to bring a lot of changes in future also,” he added.
Manu shoots in the 10-metre and 25-metre pistol events, and customised modification is being done on grips for weapons she uses in both the events.
While her 10m pistol grip is being modified at the Morini factory in Bedano, Switzerland, the grip for the 25m weapon is being customised by Nill-Griffe in Germany.
Rana also revealed that Manu and some of the Indian shooters will be training in Lugano, Switzerland
“We have started practice; we have got a dedicated range in Lugano (Switzerland). Morini company has arranged it, also for other kids (Indian shooters) who will come with us. No point training alone,” said Rana, who was previously the coach of India’s junior pistol team, which was the time when Manu, along with Saurabh Chaudhary, started growing in the international shooting circuit.
Manu has been on a long break since winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics earlier this year. She finished third in the women’s 10m air pistol event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh.
Rana also broke the news that Manu won’t be playing the National Championships, scheduled to begin on December 13 at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi.
“She won’t play the Nationals. We haven’t trained enough for that,” he said.
Becoming the first Indian woman medallist in shooting and the first Indian to win two medals in the same edition of the Olympics, Manu became the toast of the nation and was seen at various promotional events besides being felicitated across India.
There have also been questions raised about her being away from shooting for long after the Olympics and going overboard with promotional events.
“Doesn’t matter what people say, we are not answerable to anyone,” said Rana responding to that.
