Manu Bhaker Reflects on World Cup Bronze with Mixed Emotions

Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medalist, expressed her mixed emotions following her bronze medal win in the 25m pistol event at the World Cup held in Hangzhou. Despite her achievement, Bhaker feels that she could have performed better, highlighting her desire for continuous improvement. The 24-year-old shooter finished in third place, trailing her fellow Indian competitor Esha Singh, who secured the gold medal, marking a significant achievement for India with two athletes on the podium. Bhaker's journey has been marked by her pursuit of individual gold, particularly looking ahead to the 2026 competitions, with her most notable accomplishment this year being a silver medal in the mixed team event alongside Samrat Rana at the Munich World Cup. Additionally, she has previously claimed gold medals in team events at the Asian Championships held in Delhi.

In a candid post on social media platform X, Bhaker shared her thoughts on her recent performance, stating, “Another bronze. I have mixed feelings about this one. I am happy that I was able to improve my performance, but at the same time, I know I could have done better.” Her reflections indicate a balance between satisfaction with her progress and a strong drive to enhance her skills further. She emphasized the importance of her hard work paying off, while also acknowledging that there remains significant potential for growth. “What makes me happy is seeing that the hard work is showing. There’s still plenty of room for improvement, and that’s what keeps me motivated. One step at a time,” she added. Bhaker's determination is evident as she aims to build on her experiences and strive for excellence in her future competitions.