When Manu Bhaker, 16, won her maiden gold medal at the ISSF Shooting World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico in March this year, her family members, friends and neighbours back home in Goria village of Haryana’s Jhajjhar district were over the moon. However, junior national coach Jaspal Rana, was worried that she might not be able to maintain this form across a longer period having won a medal so early in her career.

Pressure game
Rana, a four-time Asian Games gold medal-winning pistol ace, hit bullseye. At the Asian Games here, Manu, who entered three events — mixed team, 10m air pistol and 25m pistol — has drawn a blank. A young mind often wanders. However, in Manu’s case, the mind may have been bogged down by pressure beyond the shooting range.