Double bronze medallist Manu Bhaker skipped meals at Paris Olympics, mother to reward her with 'Aloo Paratha' feast

Following a heartbreaking near-miss at the Paris Olympics, where she narrowly missed out on a historic medal hat-trick, Manu Bhaker's mind immediately turned to the future. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics became the immediate focus of her attention.

Manu Bhaker's Post-Olympics Thoughts

The young shooter's intense Olympic schedule had taken a toll on her physical well-being. Due to the timing of her events, Bhaker was unable to enjoy a single meal between competitions. Her days consisted of early departures from the Olympic Village and late returns, leaving no opportunity for lunch.

"The moment my match was over, I was thinking about the next one while watching the last rounds," Manu told Jio Cinema after missing out on medal in women's 25m pistol final, where she finished fourth.

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Manu Bhaker misses out on hat-trick of medals

Manu Bhaker's Olympic journey took a dramatic turn in the 25m pistol final. In a nail-biting shoot-off against Hungary's Veronika Major, Bhaker narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, losing by a single missed target. The extreme precision required for this event, where a score below 10.2 is considered a miss, highlights the immense pressure faced by these athletes.

Despite entering the final as an underdog, Bhaker's performance was nothing short of remarkable. Her journey from the depths of despair after a malfunctioning pistol in Tokyo to a dual medal-winner at Paris was nothing short of inspirational. However, the desire to complete a historic hat-trick was evident. While disappointed, Bhaker maintained a positive outlook, emphasizing the absence of pressure on her to secure a third medal.

Despite the historic feat of winning two Olympic medals in a single Games, Manu Bhaker was visibly disappointed after falling short of a hat-trick. The young shooter's ambition to achieve the unprecedented was evident as she fought back tears while expressing gratitude to her support system.

"There has been a lot of hard work going on in the backstage. So many people have worked hard so that India can win a medal. Throughout my journey, it has been great. I want to thank the entire ministry, SAI, PM Modi, my coach, Jaspal sir, my family, my friends, the support staff at the range… I thank every one of you. I hope we come up with a better result next time," she said.

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After a week of intense Olympic competition, Manu Bhaker revealed her plans to relax: a simple lunch.

"To begin with, I will eat lunch. All these days, I was not having lunch. I was just having breakfast, coming to the shooting range, and then having something in the evening," she said.

Manu's mother, Sumedha, who had spent the day in prayer for her daughter, promised her favorite dish, "aloo ke parathe," upon her return home.

"I don't know when she will be back but when she does, I will make her aloo ke parathe. She likes them," Sumedha told Jio Cinema.

Sumedha, unlike many parents, preferred to avoid the stress of watching Manu's competitions live. Deeply appreciative of her mother's unwavering support and sacrifices, Manu expressed her heartfelt gratitude.