All of 22, it’s not a surprise that she doesn’t consider herself a role model yet and is aware of the fact that it brings with it a lot of responsibility that she will only assimilate as she grows as a person and as an athlete.
The first Indian post-independence to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics and the country’s first woman medallist in shooting at the Games, the accolades are understandably taking time to sink in for Manu, after winning a bronze each in air pistol individual and mixed team, where she partnered Sarabjot Singh.
The hat-trick was missed narrowly, and her fourth position in 25m pistol event joined the list of India’s famous near misses in Olympics by some big names like Milkha Singh, PT Usha, Abhinav Bindra, Dipa Karmakar and Aditi Ashok among others.
Taking time out after finishing her campaign in Paris and waiting to carry India’s flag at the closing ceremony on August 11, Manu took time out to talk to Timesofindia.com about the two biggest moments of her career.
Have you had enough time to celebrate your monumental success?
(Smiles) After winning the first medal, I had my second event (mixed team) the very next day. So there was no time to celebrate. And if I have reached here, I cannot sit and celebrate one medal when I have three events to play and I had to give my best in each. So I was always looking forward to the next one after finishing one.
I am sure your coach Jaspal Rana wouldn’t have allowed you to celebrate either…
100%.
Did you ever think you will go back from Paris with two medals?
Honestly, I was hoping for a medal. We had prepared in a way that we were hoping for a medal definitely. But yeh nahi pata tha ek hoga, do hoga ya teen honge (didn’t know if it will be one, two, or three). We were just sticking to the plan, and the plan was that you have to try your best and keep trying in every match, no matter how it goes, you win or lose — just be prepared for all situations.
Sarabjot must have looked up to you for inspiration after his narrow miss and your individual air pistol bronze, even though both of you have been shooting since your junior days for Haryana as well as India…
I don’t think I took care of him. Mixed team involves two players. It’s not like if only I do well or only he does well, we will win. It’s both ways. It’s not that it was my effort alone; we both contributed equally. He is a very hard-working boy. He did a great job and we won this together for India.
You have created a lot of firsts, but a unique one is to be the first Indian athlete to win a medal as well as finish a heartbreaking fourth (25m Pistol). How would you describe the contrasting emotions?
The first day I finished third, the second match we won the bronze from a position where we would have either won bronze or gone home with nothing (in mixed team). So one day third (position), then next match also third. But when that fourth position happened, I thought I had experienced all the emotions in a single edition of the Olympics, which is great. I know fourth is not a very good position to be in, but I hope it gives me a lot of motivation to be able to do better in the next Games (Los Angeles 2028).
At the Bhopal World Cup, you won a senior international medal (bronze in 25m Pistol) after a wait of two years following a forgettable Olympic debut in Tokyo. You think the comeback and transformation started from there?
As far as my journey is concerned, I have been preparing for the last eight years, ever since I came to understand how big a stage the Olympics is. But honestly, the preparation began after a disastrous campaign in Tokyo. After that, I used to feel inside that I want an Olympic medal, I want to win. It kickstarted from there. And then, when I and Jaspal sir started working together again, the planning became a lot better — things like how to manage training, which competitions you have to peak in, where you can relax.
When did you feel that you needed to reunite with your previous coach — Jaspal Rana?
I think the major reason was that I was not happy. It (shooting) had turned into a job for me — like a 9 to 5 work day. It was just not giving me joy. For how long can you do something that’s not making you happy, not giving a sense of pleasure. For that reason, I was like I am not enjoying it, so I might as well either leave it or just work again with Jaspal sir. So it happened.
Is he the same super strict coach like during your junior days of training at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in Delhi?
Bilkul, same (smiles).
An Indian athlete benefits on various fronts after Olympic success, be it monetarily or in terms of recognition. But with it also comes the responsibility to be a role model. Even though you still have a long playing career ahead of you, what are your thoughts on that?
To be a role model is a big thing. Although I don’t believe I am yet at a stage where I can be a role model; but if it is like that, then I am really grateful that god gave me the opportunity to be worth that.
As you said, I still have my shooting career and I would like it to be a very long one, at least 10-15 years more, if not 20. But whenever anybody needs anything, I always tell them that I train here, I do my gym here, I live here, so you can come and meet me anytime or ask for any kind of help. And I would always like to tell the young athletes to be consistent with their performances and in everything they are doing every single day as a routine that’s helping them in performing well. If you are not consistent in anything, then you won’t last more than one or two years.