A HIGHER glory may still come India’s way in Paris. The campaign might assume a golden hue sometime soon. But if and when it comes, the shine of Manu Bhaker’s two bronze medals in shooting would weigh with it on equal terms. The young girl missed out on a rare hat-trick of medals in the Olympics just by a whisker but she has already cemented her place in India’s wonderful sporting history as an inspiration.

 

Expectations were sky high from Bhaker to bring home a third medal given her tremendous form. She did give her best in the 25m sports pistol event but lost by the narrowest margin possible in the shoot-off for the third place. It was a heartbreak for the 22-year-old and a disappointment for the fans back home but no one has any complaints. Bhaker will return home with her twin bronze-medal feat in women’s 10m air pistol and mixed team 10m air pistol partnering Sarabjot Singh. It is a fantastic achievement for the shooter who was on the verge of quitting the sport after the disastrous outing in Tokyo Olympics where her pistol malfunctioned. Salute to her steel and tenacity to face truth and punch it hard to carve her own destiny. Manu Bhaker, with her two-medal achievement, has now raised the bar for future triumphs and also opened way for budding sportspersons seeking their own moment under the sun. The narrow miss of a third medal has already bolstered her resolve to come back stronger in the next chance.

 

This reiteration of a fightback without getting deterred by the setback by the young girl has a bigger import for Indian sports. It talks about the strong will of our young sportspersons who are ready to counter despair but would not compromise with their efforts. Copping a loss or even a heartbreaking finish on the chin, the young brigade is ready to march on. It was steadily reflecting in India’s recent performance in international events and will continue to produce more champions like Manu Bhaker in the future. The change in thinking bodes really well for boosting a robust sporting culture in India. After the Tokyo Games, there has been a positive wave about India’s sportspersons. Neeraj Chopra heralded the change in the last Games and Manu Bhaker’s fantastic feat in Paris has added further lustre to the welcome turn. There are many other stories, like Swapnil Kusale’s, in the Games which serve as a trigger point for aspiring sportspersons. The good news is, India’s share in such stories is constantly rising. The sporting landscape in the country needs such stories of grit and glory and even heartbreaks, for, the little tales hold immense power of starting a movement among the hopefuls of the future. At the business end of the Paris Games, India would be searching for more such tales of valour in which unsung protagonists stay on course without caring for the outside noise. Manu has already shown what dedicated focus can bring. We need to find more Manus, for India’s glory.