New Delhi: Two-time Olympic medallist I beg you Celebrating 10 years in competitive shooting with emotional reflections on social media, Tuesday marked a major milestone in his career. The 24-year-old, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, looked at the highs, lows and lessons that shaped him from a teenager to one of India’s biggest sports stars.
“Completed a decade in my game today. Never imagined my career to be so beautiful, so giving and inspiring,” Bhakar wrote on Instagram with memories of various stages of his career.The shooter recalled his obsession with the game in his early years, writing: “I remember getting my first Indian team jersey and I would never take it off! Even in summer.”
Manu Bhakar Instagram Post (Screengrab)
He also spoke about the difficult stages during his journey, particularly after missing out on medals despite strong performances.“Honestly, I lost a lot of times,” he admitted, reflecting on his fifth-place finish in 2018 and 2023. Asian Games Despite topping the qualification round in both editions.Bhakar also reviewed his breakthrough year in 2018 when he won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Australia at the age of just 16. “She gave me confidence and I can’t thank you all enough for all the support and love,” she wrote.His post comes a day after a talk at NRAI’s 75th anniversary celebrations in Delhi sparked an online debate. Bhakar was asked about teenage cricket sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi, with several social media users later criticizing the line of questioning for distracting from his own achievements.Calmly answering a question on Suryavanshi’s rise, Bhakar stressed the importance of mentoring and support systems for young players. “If the guidance is good, the company around it is good, and the people around are good, then age is just a number,” he said.The exchange sparked a wide-ranging debate online about the dominance of cricket’s narrative over achievements in other Indian sports.
