Horse riding, skating, Bharatanatyam, violin practice and karate... Manu Bhaker plans to put the pistol to rest for some time as she gets busy doing things she likes but usually doesn’t find time to indulge in.
After winning two bronze medals in the Paris Olympics and with her shooting hand bruised by repeated pistol recoils during training, Manu will now take a well-deserved three-month break. But it will be no vacation since, besides practising her hobbies, the ace shooter will continue her other routines, including yoga and waking up at 6 am — which she hates.
“Now, I have some time off and I can probably do that (karate) again,” the 22-year-
old said.
“I was not able to get that kind of time to invest myself into that (martial arts). Finally, I can take time off for my hobbies, and I have many, many hobbies. Horse riding... Personally, I love horse riding, skating, I can still manage on the roads... then fitness, I really enjoy working out.
“Then, I have dance also, I am learning Bharatanatyam. I love the dance form. I was training in France, I wasn’t able to get time, was not able to cope with the (Bharatanatyam) classes,” said Manu, whose trainer is from Tamil Nadu. “She takes my classes personally... then I have violin also,” she added.
But Manu’s coach Jaspal Rana does not approve of her planned adventures. As she revealed her bucket list for the “holiday”, Rana had a faint smile on his face at the very mention of horse riding. “...then she has to come back in one piece,” Rana said.
“Skating and horse riding are something she should not be doing and she’ll be responsible for whatever happens,” Rana declared.
Manu refused to step back. “I have been learning horse riding for some time now,” she said with a smile.
“I was waiting... that after the Olympics, I will do horse riding... And so many other things that I want to do, like skydiving, scuba diving... I’ve waited for so long,” she said.
A disapproving Rana reminded Manu that the break was meant to give rest to
her hand.
“This (Manu’s injured hand) is the reason we are making her rest for three months. Because this (injury) has been there for the last eight months and it has not healed till now,” Rana said. “So rest is mandatory for the hand.”
Manu will not compete in the season-ending prestigious ISSF World Cup Final, to be held in October in New Delhi. Well, she can afford to skip that and take rest.
Or dive deep into her hobbies, maybe.
