Manu Bhaker, the young Indian shooter, made history by securing a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the Paris Olympics on Sunday. This achievement marked the first medal for India in the 32nd edition of the Games. Reflecting on her remarkable performance, Bhaker attributed her success to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, which helped her maintain composure and focus throughout the competition.
In an interview with Sports18, the 22-year-old expressed her joy and gratitude for winning the bronze medal. “I feel surreal. I did a good job. I put in a lot of efforts. Even in the final shot, I was fighting with all the energy that I had. This was a bronze. I am really grateful I could win the bronze for India. Maybe I will do better next time,” Bhaker said.
Bhaker, who has a habit of reading the Bhagavad Gita, shared how the sacred text influenced her mindset during the event. “I read the Bhagavad Gita quite a lot. What was going through my mind was to just do what I was meant to, supposed to do. Just leave whatever else to the destiny. You can’t control the outcome. In Gita, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna to focus on the karma and not the outcome of the karma. That was running through my mind, to just do my task,” she explained.
Bhaker’s achievement is a testament to her dedication and mental strength, with her philosophical approach proving instrumental in overcoming the pressures of high-stakes competition. Her bronze medal is not just a personal triumph but also a significant milestone for Indian sports at the Paris Olympics.