Manu Bhaker focused to maintain balance between multiple events at Tokyo 2020

Rising Indian shooter Manu Bhaker began her campaign at Tokyo 2020 on Sunday with a setback in the women's 10m air pistol qualification event. She finished 12th with a total shot of 575 and failed to make it to the final. The Jhajjar-born shooter, however, will now look to make it count at the 25m sports pistol event and 10m air pistol mixed team events.

"I think it is a result of my performance in the past three years and I am thankful for the selection committee and NRAI president (Raninder Singh) for showing faith in me,” Bhaker told Times of India.

"Having said that, on the preparation front, it doesn't change anything as I have prepared for three events," she added.

Bhaker had finished fifth on both the occasions in the 25m sports pistol event at the 2018 World Cups in Guadalajara and New Delhi. She replicated a similar show in 2019 as she once again finished fifth at the Munich World Cup before slipping to 17th spot in Beijing_._

She, however, delivered some consistent performances at the national trials ahead of Tokyo 2020.

"I have maintained the No.1 position in 10m and 25m trials. I have been shooting better scores than anyone else, I had to make way for others at the Asian Championships and shoot in MQS (minimum qualification score) so that others can get a chance to shoot for (Olympic) quota," she said.

Bhaker, incidentally, looks in fine touch for the women's 25m pistol event after a good show at the European Shooting Championship in Osijek, Croatia recently.

The pistol shooter made it to the finals of all three events she contested in Osijek. It will be that balance between events she will look to replicate at Tokyo.

When does Manu Bhaker's Tokyo 2020 campaign begin?

Bhaker began her campaign at Tokyo 2020 on Sunday in the women's 10m air pistol qualification event. She will next feature in the 10m mixed team qualification event on July 27 and women's 25m pistol qualification event on July 29.