Pistol ace Manu Bhaker is the toast of the nation after she won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics to create history as the first woman shooter to finish on the Games podium and first athlete post-independence to win two medals for India in the same edition of the Olympic Games.
On a break since she led the Indian contingent as the flagbearer, along with hockey icon PR Sreejesh, at the closing ceremony in Paris, the 22-year-old Manu is being seen almost at every place, including on the cover of the latest edition of the magazine ‘Cosmopolitan’.
And in an interaction with the magazine, she was asked to name a sports person she would want to spend a day with.
“Maybe I’ll name a few of my favourites. Usain Bolt (legendary Jamaican runner) is one of them. I’ve read his book so many times and I’ve known his journey as well. I’ve watched so many of his interviews too,” she said about her favourite among the international sports stars.
Coming to sports personalities in India, Manu’s list includes the country’s three cricket icons.
“And then, in India, cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, (MS) Dhoni sir, and Virat Kohli. It would be an honour to spend even an hour with any of them,” Manu told Cosmopolitan.
Manu’s outstanding feat at the Paris Games included a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event and another bronze in the air pistol mixed team event, partnering Sarabjot Singh.
The shooting contingent contributed three of the six medals India won in Paris, with Swapnil Kusale’s bronze in men’s 50m 3 Positions event being the third.
Javelin-thrower Neeraj Chopra (silver), wrestler Aman Sehrawat (bronze) and men’s hockey team (bronze) were the other medal winners for India.