CHATEAUROUX:A serious contender to be one of the two Indian flag-bearers at the Paris Olympics 2024 closing ceremony on August 11,Manu Bhakeris ‘dying for some home-made food’.
“I am craving to eat my favourite food – aloo paratha and dahi (curd). It’s been a long time that I haven’t eaten such food since my training system didn’t allow it,” said Bhaker.
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The excitement of becoming the first Indian Olympian, to win more than one medal at one Summer Games, post-Independence, is perhaps yet to sink in for the 22-year-old Bhaker. The Indian media has hounded her almost every day in the past week here.
“I will now sit down and analyse my performance with my coaches and prepare for the future. I have done my best in Paris and definitely was more confident and courageous than Tokyo 2020,” said Bhaker.
Bhaker finished with two medals. The first came in the 10m air pistol and the second came in the 10m mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh. She finished fourth in the 25m sports pistol finals on Saturday.
“I thank my coaches and the entire ecosystem, especially Olympic Gold Quest and the Sports Authority of India, for supporting me so much in the Paris cycle. More than anything else, the love and prayers from my fans will motivate me to do even better at the next Games (in Los Angeles in 2028),” said Bhaker.
Having emerged from the Union government’s Khelo India system, Manu Bhaker was one of the biggest medal hopes at Paris 2024. On Bhaker, the SAI invested INR 1.68 crore over three years after Tokyo 2020.
In terms of return on investment, Bhaker has been very successful, unlike P V Sindhu, on whom the government spent INR 3.13 crore! Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu lost in the first round of the badminton knockouts.
On an expectant note, Manu Bhaker is hoping for a grand welcome back home. Haryana usually accords a rousing welcome for its sportspersons who win international laurels.
“Let’s see how India welcomes me back but on a serious note, I need to figure out the areas where I could have done better,” she said. That’s Manu Bhaker’s vision.
