{"id":27770,"date":"2026-09-23T12:57:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T12:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=27770"},"modified":"2026-09-23T12:57:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T12:57:26","slug":"we-were-really-looking-forward-to-japan-teary-eyed-manu-bhaker-remembers-late-coach-jaspal-rana-asian-games-2026-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=27770","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;We were really looking forward to Japan&#8217;: Teary-eyed Manu Bhaker remembers late coach Jaspal Rana | Asian Games 2026 News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134437876,imgsize-48173,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg\" alt=\"'We were really looking forward to Japan': Teary-eyed Manu Bhaker remembers late coach Jaspal Rana\" title=\"Manu Bhaker remembers late coach Jaspal Rana (Image credit: Agencies)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Manu Bhaker remembers late coach Jaspal Rana (Image credit: Agencies)\">Manu Bhaker remembers late coach Jaspal Rana (Image credit: Agencies)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NAGOYA: <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/manu-bhaker\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Manu Bhaker<\/a> wore a disappointed look after finishing fifth (181.1) in the women\u2019s 10m air pistol event. The position was unchanged from the previous edition of the <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/asian-games\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asian Games<\/a>, but almost everything else had.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>In Hangzhou, she had been part of the gold-winning trio in the team event. More importantly, she had reunited with her coach Jaspal Rana in the run-up to the Games.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>This time, she had neither the medal nor the man who had been such a significant part of her shooting journey.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>As Manu walked into the mixed zone after the final, it was evident she was struggling to hold back her emotions. She managed to do so until the conversation turned to Rana, who passed away in June.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/>Rana, one of the most decorated shooters in Asian Games history with eight medals, including four gold across three editions, had missed the Hangzhou Games as he was not part of the Indian contingent.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>Manu and Rana had been looking forward to this Games. It was not to be.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>\u201cWe were really looking forward to Japan,\u201d said the 24-year-old, before tears began rolling down her cheeks.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>She stepped away for a few minutes to compose herself before returning.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>\u201cI remember what he said, not once or twice, but all the time. It just stays with you. When a person has been a big part of your life, it just stays. It\u2019s very natural,\u201d she said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>\u201cOf all the things he said, what I remember the most is about the process. He was just so adamant about the process \u2014 that at any given point in your life, you have to be able to give your best performance and follow your process.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/>Then came a thought that seemed to go beyond shooting.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/>\u201cLife is just very unpredictable. So, live your life to the fullest, be kind to everyone,\u201d she said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/>The past few months have been particularly difficult for Manu. Along with losing Rana, she also lost her grandmother.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>There had been a popular expectation of a medal in Nagoya, and Manu felt the weight of that expectation. \u201cI genuinely tried my best. I am really sorry that I was not able to make it to the podium. I hope that I will be able to do better,\u201d she said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"40\"\/>The final itself mirrored the turmoil of the preceding months.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>Manu made a steady start and was third after the opening set, only for an 8.9 to send her tumbling to seventh. She fought back with a 10.1 and a 10.4, before an 10.8 lifted her from the brink of elimination. The rollercoaster continued. Another 10.8 took her back to third, but a 9.6 in the next series ended her medal hopes and left her fifth.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"44\"\/>Her coach Jelena Arunovic was not surprised by the performance. \u201cDuring our training in Bhopal, finals-like practice sessions were organised. Compare the performance from there to here, it\u2019s slightly better. This is what my coach told me as well,\u201d said Manu.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"46\"\/>As she walked away, the panda pimple patch on her left cheek was perhaps the only thing that looked cheerful.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/asian-games-2026\/we-were-really-looking-forward-to-japan-teary-eyed-manu-bhaker-remembers-late-coach-jaspal-rana\/articleshow\/134437570.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manu Bhaker remembers late coach Jaspal Rana (Image credit: Agencies) NAGOYA: Manu Bhaker wore a disappointed look after finishing fifth (181.1) in the women\u2019s 10m air pistol event. The position was unchanged from the previous edition of the Asian Games, but almost everything else had.In Hangzhou, she had been part of the gold-winning trio in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Manu Bhaker remembers late coach Jaspal Rana (Image credit: Agencies) NAGOYA: Manu Bhaker wore a disappointed look after finishing fifth (181.1) in the women\u2019s 10m air pistol event. The position was unchanged from the previous edition of the Asian Games, but almost everything else had.In Hangzhou, she had been part of the gold-winning trio in [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":2,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/manu-bhaker-jaspal-rana-230.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27770\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}