NEW DELHI: Shooting ace Manu Bhaker has urged her fellow Indian athletes to put the organisational issues surrounding the Asian Games behind them and focus on competition, saying the continental showpiece represents a “once in a lifetime opportunity and experience”.The build-up to the Games in Japan has been marred by complaints from athletes and officials of several participating countries, including India, over cramped accommodation, organisational mismanagement and long travel times between hotels and training venues.With criticism mounting over the arrangements, Bhaker called on the Indian contingent not to allow the problems to distract them from their performances.“To all my fellow athletes from India, we will have some issues. I saw a couple of issues circulated in social media and people telling me these are the issues,” Bhaker said in a video message posted by the Indian Olympic Association.“Regardless of whatever the issues we have, this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity and experience. We have to make sure that we enjoy the time rather than complaining,” she added.
‘We should not waste our energy’
Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, said Indian athletes had worked too hard to reach the Asian Games to allow the organisational difficulties to consume their attention.“We have prepared the best we can and so we must try to perform the best we can. We have worked so hard to be here and we should not waste our energy in pointing out that this is not right and that is not right. Medal may come or not, that is another story, but we must give our best.”The 24-year-old has been given another significant responsibility at the Games after being named one of India’s two flag bearers for Saturday’s opening ceremony.Bhaker created history at the Paris Olympics in 2024 when she became the first athlete from Independent India to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games. She won bronze in the women’s individual 10m air pistol and mixed team 10m air pistol events.
Manu Bhaker to lead India’s contingent as flag bearer
The Asian Games will also carry a strong personal significance for Bhaker, who is competing at the continental event for the third time.“When I came to know of this (being chosen as one of the flagbearers), I had flashbacks of my earlier days. When I started, I never thought I would reach this far one day. It’s definitely feeling proud and honoured,” she said.“I was just 16 years old when I competed in the Asian Games in 2018. This is my third Asian Games. I was in Palembang (Indonesia) in 2018 and so could not attend the ceremony.”Bhaker recalled that her late coach Jaspal Rana had allowed her to attend opening ceremonies of multi-sport events only when she was a flag bearer, given the tight competition schedule for shooters.“The first time I attended the opening ceremony was in the Commonwealth Games and I was like if I am the flagbearer I will attend because my (then) coach Jaspal (Rana) sir said he will allow me attend the ceremony if I am the flagbearer, otherwise not. Since our matches usually start just a day after the opening ceremony, it becomes hectic for us.“So in opening ceremonies, I am either a flagbearer or I watch the ceremony on television.”Earlier on Saturday, seasoned kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor as the other Indian flag bearer after Toor was unable to attend the ceremony because he did not have the required ceremonial kit in his luggage.