During a visit to Velammal Nexus School in Chennai, the 22-year-old shared her journey, emphasizing the transformative power of sports and encouraging students to consider it as a viable career path.
“My journey, coming from the Tokyo Olympics, it was very difficult for me to be confident again. I was world number two, but I did not do good in it. I know the taste of losing and then winning. It’s the beauty of sports. One competition you lose, and you can win the other. But, it would only happen if you put in hard work,” said Bhaker.
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Bhaker’s message resonated deeply with the audience as she candidly addressed her struggles after the Tokyo Olympics, where she fell short of expectations despite being ranked second globally.
Emphasizing the importance of ambition, Bhaker urged students to “dream big” and supplement their aspirations with unwavering effort.
“To achieve the goal, we must put in a lot of hard work and effort. It doesn’t always start with aiming for something big, you also have to work to achieve it. If you can dream big, you can achieve big. So, always start by dreaming big. I always tell myself that no matter if I win or lose in any competition, I’ll always be very confident and hold myself high and together, and be very confident. We have many career options. You don’t have to become a doctor or an engineer. Sports life is a beautiful life. From financial support to any kind of it, you get everything in sports,” she added.
The Olympian credited her mother as her biggest inspiration, instilling in her the importance of forging her own path. She acknowledged the crucial role parents and teachers play in shaping a child’s journey, particularly in the formative years of a sporting career.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Bhaker highlighted the personal growth she underwent during her eight-year journey, explaining, “I have had eight and a half years in my shooting career. I have travelled almost half of the world. I have seen different kinds of people and cultures, their backgrounds and struggles, and also known their journeys. We should never be ashamed of where we come from — the cultural background.
“You should carry it with pride, and you should be proud of yourself, how far you have come, and you have a long way to go. I never knew English, how to talk to people, and many other things I never knew. But, I taught myself. People helped me to learn different things. You can always approach a teacher or your parents to learn something new. You can always ask somebody to teach you.”