Manu Bhaker says she missed late coach Jaspal Rana after Nagoya Asian Games opening ceremony

Manu Bhaker said she missed her late coach Jaspal Rana after carrying the Indian flag at the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya on Saturday. "Missed Jaspal sir a lot today. It was indeed an emotional day without his presence by my side," Bhaker said after the ceremony.

Rana, a former champion shooter who later became a coach, died on June 11 at the age of 49. He played a major role in Bhaker's development and guided her to two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Rana had been strict about Bhaker attending opening ceremonies at multi-sport events, instructing her that she could go only if she was the flag-bearer and otherwise should watch on television to conserve energy. Bhaker missed the opening ceremony at her first Asian Games in 2018 because she was based in Palembang while the main athletes' village was in Jakarta, and she later attended the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony that year.

Standing at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium with the Indian flag in her hands, the 24-year-old shooter was one of India's flag-bearers at the ceremony. Bhaker said the moment recalled advice Rana had given her about experiencing such occasions only after earning the right to lead the contingent.

Bhaker will now turn her attention back to competition as she prepares for her third Asian Games. The shift in focus follows the emotional opening ceremony and the recent loss of her long-time coach.

She is scheduled to compete in the women's 10m air pistol, women's 25m pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team events at Nagoya-Aichi, and remains the only athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games.