In this exclusive interview with DNA's G Krishnan, the 41-year-old Rana says it is unrealistic to expect the shooter from Haryana to win gold medals again and again. Excerpts:
Chief junior national coach for pistol and former Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jaspal Rana is worried about the fame and monetary rewards that may affect the growth of talented 16-year-old Manu Bhaker, who won back-to-back gold in 10m air pistol women and 10m air pistol mixed team in ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, over the weekend. In this exclusive interview with DNA's G Krishnan, the 41-year-old Rana says it is unrealistic to expect the shooter from Haryana to win gold medals again and again. Excerpts:
What is the reason behind Manu's back-to-back gold-medal performances in her maiden ISSF World Cup?
A lot of things. It is easy to say she has natural talent and all, but there is a lot of hard work put in by her, a lot of sacrifices by her family, school teachers and coaches. There are a lot of things that has gone on to her succeeding at the World Cup. Yes, she is a talented girl. Anybody who barges into the national camp has extraordinary talent.
It is a matter of time when they perform, on which platform they are ready, and to peak at a particular time. In her case, she peaked a little early. This was not expected. At the end of the day, what matters is that she won gold medals for the country. Expecting her to repeat this performance again and again is unrealistic. Yes, she has the talent. For long term, she can be a very good property that can be worked upon properly, that can be monitored and safeguarded from her own self. These victories can get into her head. Not only the players themselves, but family and friends put unnecessary pressure. If she can be protected from these things, it will be good for her.
You were a child prodigy and won a lot of medals at a young age. How did you tackle fame and money?
There were people behind me who protected me from everything. I started winning and making money when I was 15-16 but my family did not allow me to access that money and spend it the way I wanted. At a young age, you don't realise what these things can bring to you. If that part is played well with her (Manu), it will be good because to reach this level is difficult and to stay here is impossible. She will fall, and if she bounces back after the fall, that is the important part. For that, we have start working now, not at a later stage.
What role can you play in these things apart from the techniques in shooting?
I am not the one who taught her shooting techniques and all. I am just here to look after the national team. It is more of a guardian's job. Anybody who walks into the national team has proved himself/herself. They are among the best in the country. Basically, you fine-tune their skills and play with the brain. They know the techniques, they know how to shoot. To keep their heads on their shoulders, to make them better human beings, to be disciplined and to be a part of the team rather than doing things the way they want, this is where I step in. She has money, she has fame. To keep her in the team, I have to ensure she keeps her head on her shoulders. She may have won something big but still she is part of the team. And, to repeat this feat, she has to do the same things that she did earlier. That is my role. When she falls, I will be the person to hold her.
Winning back-to-back gold in her first World Cup, how huge is it for her and for Indian shooting?
That is a very good thing. That will give her confidence also. It has both positives and negatives. World Cup is one of the biggest events we have. Some people like Abhinav Bindra have won Olympic gold. Before that, he was just Abhinav Bindra, winning medals in World Cups and other tournaments. But, to repeat that performance, and to win a World Cup medal again, nobody cares because he is already an Olympic gold medallist. These (World Cups) become very easy for him. Even if Manu Bhaker wins silver in her next World Cup, people would say, 'she should have won gold'. She has to understand this situation. Even we have to understand this. The expectation is very high. What she did in Mexico does not happen every now and then. Winning two World Cup golds on successive days is not what you see often. If you see the medal tally of India, we were on top (3 gold, 4 bronze).
That did not happen with China, Korea and European countries. That is not something that happens regularly. Once in 3-4 years, it happens with any country. To repeat this, we have to go through hell.
And, it is not easy winning back-to-back gold medals, is it?
Yes, but she did it. But, I will not be surprised if she repeats this. When somebody is in form, it keeps happening one after the other. But, that should be without any expectation. She is still a child. If you are talking about somebody like Abhinav Bindra, he was matured and knew what he was dealing with. We talk about Rajyavardhan Rathore, who is the sports minister now, (he) understood what winning an Olympic silver medal was. This child doesn't realise what she has won. I am not talking about medal but am talking about her talent, and we need to protect that.
Does age play a role in winning medals in shooting?
Age is no bar. Anisa Sayyed was shooting in World Cups until her mid-30s. Rathore was 34 when he won Olympic silver. Bindra was 25 when he won Olympic gold. It is how you prepare yourself that matters.
Following her gold medal feat, what should she be doing from now?
She has done what she should have done. Now, the government, the federation, coaches, her family have to slow down. We have to understand that she is not a machine. She has delivered what she had to. The Commonwealth Games (in Gold Coast, Australia next month) is important. She will definitely win a medal there. But if we expect miracles to happen again and again, they don't happen just like that.
What's next for her?
The ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney (March 19 to 29). From there, she will go for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. There, we have to work a lot.
MANU’S METEORIC RISE
- Manu Bhaker hails from Jhajjar, Haryana. Interested in a wide range of sports, she took up shooting a little over two years ago
- Her breakthrough moment came at the 61st National Shooting Championship in December last year, where she beat Heena Sidhu in the 10m air pistol event
- Manu pipped Heena by setting a new national record of 242.3 points, bettering the previous record of 240.8 set by Heena in Brisbane earlier in 2017
- She ended the national championship with a jaw-dropping 15 medals including nine gold
- In just her maiden ISSF World Cup appearance, Manu won back-to-back gold in 10m air pistol women and 10m air pistol mixed team
DID YOU KNOW
At 16, Manu Bhaker became the youngest Indian shooter, and the third youngest in the world, to win a medal at the World Cup
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