Manu Bhaker’s Journey: Olympic Triumph and the Challenges of Sudden Fame
The young, talented Indian sports shooter Manu Bhaker, who is a professional Indian shooter, was making history all over again. At the Paris Olympics 2024, post-independence, she became the first Indian sportsperson to clinch multiple medals in an edition of the Summer Games.
That turned her into a national sensation overnight and catapulted the national limelight. But one thing about fame is that challenges usually come in a lurking fashion – one which might be astonishing.
The acme of history accomplished in Paris.
Manu Bhaker’s journey to Olympic glory is quite inspiring. The only hiccup came for Manu, who had to face a tough shoot-off with Veronika Major of Hungary in the women’s 25-meter pistol final. One single missed shot, and the pistol shooter stood fourth, having just missed the podium. However, apart from that single setback, her performance in Paris speaks volumes about skill, determination, and resilience.
The Double-Edged Sword of Fame
The fact that India has a population of 150 crore people yet is still under an Olympic medal drought speaks volumes about the country’s need for more such accolades; in the case of an athlete like Manu Bhaker, the entire nation beams with pride.
On the other hand, this can be rather hard to cope with. The shift from being an athlete who makes every effort to reach their sport and becoming a national icon that people are staring at constantly is not an easy one. Fame, as Manu, is just now discovering, is a sword with two edges.
A great Bengaluru-arranged show that presented her arrival to Chennai by Velammal Nexus to India was one of the events that took place after Manu’s return to India. Known for its star worship, the city of stars pulled out all the stops to honor the boy’s achievements. Children gave her pictures they had drawn of her, and one 10-year-old boy juggled on a unicycle.
But as in every other thing, nothing comes with its share of challenges. Soon, the event became chaotic with the addition of the media and YouTubers. However, the warmth and enthusiasm of the students overshadowed the chaos as they welcomed Manu with open arms.
Image Credit: sports.ndtv.com
Price for Success
Amid the celebrations, along with the attention, Manu had to face several bane-like issues. A question-answer session revealed a myriad of reactions. The fact that some of those present were disappointing, as Mann failed to identify Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
But, at the same time, a few others started clapping with excitement as the girl recognized famous Actor Vijay. The girl seemed pretty calm, composed, and graceful to some extent while answering the questions.
But the demands on her did not stop with questions. One of the students asked her to sing a song, and though she was a little hesitant initially, Manu agreed to do so—with ‘Dekha Tenu Pehli-Pehli Baar Ve’ by Mohammad Faiz and Jaani. Then, another surprise awaited Manu as she was asked to join a group of schoolgirls dancing to the Bollywood hit ‘Kala Chashma.’ With good grace, she got up to dance, shaking a leg along with the thrilled students.
The challenges of fame were not quite done yet as the event was winding down. Reporters started asking more personal and politically charged questions that really tested Manu’s patience. It was a question about Vinesh’s political motivations that seemed to cross the Rubicon. Having felt the intrusive nature of such questions, Manu, who herself is a tactical shooter, decided to leave without responding to them.
Grace Under Pressure
The case of Manu Bhaker exemplifies the tangled question of fame in India. Any athlete who comes out victorious is excessively celebrated, and at times, their personal lives are also celebrated; their lives are put under public scrutiny.
For many, this is a hard battle to fight back, much like the athletic contests. Manu’s story reiterates the belief that while successes do need to be celebrated, it is equally important that a person’s personal space is kept holy for them to achieve what they set out to do.
For a country where Olympic successes are almost rare, Manu Bhaker’s achievements in shooting games are quite extraordinary. With her sailing through the challenges of fame, one can understand that it is really not the end of her journey. With talent, resilience, and grace as her guiding principles, Manu stands poised for yet more history to be made inside and outside the shooting range.
Reference:
1. economictimes.indiatimes.com
2. sports.ndtv.com
3. sportstar.thehindu.com
4. olympics.com