New Delhi: Communication is the key aspect in a team sport but shooter Manu Bhaker believes that remaining ‘disconnected’ with partner Saurabh Chaudhary has been the key to their golden run in four successive World Cups. The teenagers will be gunning for a podium finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They have already booked a quota place for the country.
“We are not very connected. We are two very different things (individuals),” the 17-year-old Manu Bhaker told this agency when asked about her recipe of success having won her fourth mixed World Cup gold in Rio de Janeiro, last week.
At 17, one is free from fear of failure which is a common thread binding the teenage duo as they simply like to concentrate on their individual performances.
“We don’t talk much. We are both on our own. We just focus on our individual performance. He (Saurabh Chadhury) doesn’t give much thought on my performance and neither do I think about his. I think that makes us fearless and we shoot for ourselves and perhaps because of that, we are doing well,” Manu explained.
Manu Bhaker will be among the 14 Indian shooters, who will represent the country at the year-ending World Cup Finals at Putian, China, November 17 and 23.
“I thought I will not be selected for World Cup Finals as I didn’t win any individual medals this year. I won all the mixed team gold with Saurabh. So it was unexpected but now that I have been selected, I am so happy and excited to go for the World Finals. I will work hard to do well,” Manu informed.
Last year, Manu had won a series of gold medals, which include the Guadalajara World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Youth Olympics at Buenos Aires.
But there were disappointments also. She suffered a pistol malfunction during the 25m Rapid Fire pistol final at the Munich World Cup, forcing her to forfeit. She also returned empty handed from the Asian Games after participating in three events – mixed, 25m air pistol and 10m air pistol.
“I think success and failure is like heartbeats. It goes up and down and it is all part of life. The malfunction at Munich World Cup was one moment where I felt very low. It was like someone took (snatched) away the medal in-front of my eyes. It was heartbreaking,” said Manu.
“Another such low moment was the Asian Games, I was fifth in the final and it was very upsetting. I had high expectations from myself and everything fall apart. Jaspal (Rana) sir helped me during that phase,” Manu added.
The Tokyo Olympics is just seven months away and Manu believes she can produce a much better performance at the Games.
“Olympics is a dream for all sportsperson. I hope it becomes my best moment of my life. Anything can happen. I don’t know what is destined for me. If I have the blessings and I can go on to win an individual as well as team medals, it will be the best moment of my life,” Manu stated.
PTI