Manu Bhaker Reflects on World Cup Bronze: 'Could Have Done Better,' Eyes Bigger Goals

Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has made it clear that a podium finish alone is not enough to satisfy her ambitions. After securing the bronze medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, the Indian shooting star admitted she walked away with mixed emotions, believing she had the potential to achieve an even better result.

While the bronze added another international medal to her growing collection, Bhaker acknowledged that there is still significant room for improvement. In a heartfelt message shared on social media, the 24-year-old said she was pleased to see her hard work paying off but remained determined to raise her standards further.

"I have mixed feelings about this one. I am happy that I was able to improve my performance, but at the same time, I know I could have done better," she wrote, adding that the journey of constant improvement continues to motivate her.

The Hangzhou event turned into a memorable outing for India as Esha Singh clinched the gold medal, ensuring a superb one-two finish for the country in the event. However, Bhaker is still chasing her first individual gold medal of the 2026 season. Her best results this year include the World Cup bronze and a 10m air pistol mixed team silver with Samrat Rana at the Munich World Cup. She also won gold at the Asian Championships in Delhi, though that success came in a team event.

Bhaker's latest achievement comes after an emotionally challenging period following the passing of her mentor and long-time national coach Jaspal Rana in June. Despite the setback, she has continued to perform consistently on the international stage.

The ace shooter will now shift her focus to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where she will compete in both the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events. Having played a key role in India's women's team gold in the 25m pistol competition at the previous Asian Games, Bhaker will be aiming to convert her steady form into individual gold and add another major chapter to her remarkable career.