“It was a long-due medal for India,” said Manu Bhaker after scripting history in the Paris Olympics on Sunday. She ended India’s 12-year-long drought for the Olympic medal in shooting. The 22-year-old was seemingly hungry for more despite having become the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal. 

But the journey from the heartbreak in Tokyo to Paris redemption was not smooth at all. Manu has not forgotten the nightmarish scenario three years ago, returning home from her maiden Olympics empty-handed and full of tears after having failed to live up to expectations. She competed in three events in her maiden Games appearance, but things did not go her way.

Manu had such a deep anguish that she planned to say goodbye to the game last year! 

She was losing interest in shooting! Manu lost the spark that fuelled her to pick up the pistol as a 14-year-old and win the ISSF World Cup gold medal only at the age of 16! 

However, Manu did not throw in the towel. She picked up the phone and called her former coach and decorated tactician Jaspal Rana. She wanted a reunion and Rana agreed. It came, three years after a public fallout between the two. Both the shooter and the coach buried the hatchet and worked together again. The fire was lit again. Manu was locked and reloaded for the next big target -- the Paris Olympics.