NEW DELHI: India’s two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker on Monday said she has made key equipment changes ahead of the Asian Games and World Championships, hoping the adjustments will improve her medal prospects at the two major events.After an inconsistent 2025 season, Manu revealed that she had returned to her old Pardini Armi pistol for the 25m sport pistol, with the same setup she used at the Paris Olympics, where she finished fourth and also won two bronze medals in the 10m air pistol events.Her decision follows a difficult stint with a newer, high-tech Pardini model that failed to live up to her expectations. “The problem primarily stemmed from the trigger mechanism and pistol grip. I went back to an older and more reliable setup,” Manu told TOI on the sidelines of the National Rifle Association of India’s 75th anniversary event.While Manu returns to a familiar weapon in one event, she opted for an upgrade in the 10m air pistol event. “I am now using the new Morini pistol and building on my previous experience. I hope to achieve better results with it. However, the basic technique remains unchanged,” she said.Looking ahead, the 24-year-old emphasized the importance of international exposure ahead of major competitions and said she was open to training abroad. “I think the Indian team will go outside the country for a training camp, that would be good. I will leave that decision to the federation.”Meanwhile, plans to dock some Asian Games athletes on a cruise ship have raised concerns in India about possible discomfort for competitors in static sports such as shooting, with fears of dizziness, imbalance or nausea and the time it may take to readjust before rounds of competition.“I would like the organizers to ensure uniform and stable living conditions for all competing athletes,” added Manu.
