Manu Bhaker urges Indian athletes to ignore the problems of the Asian Games and give their best

Two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker has urged her fellow Indian athletes to forget the distractions surrounding the Asian Games and focus on the opportunity ahead as the Aichi-Nagoya Games officially begin in Japan.

The rise of the continental pageant has been marred by complaints about accommodation, transport and arrangements for athletes. Several contestants and officials stood up concerns about long journeys to training sites and other organizational problems. However, Bhaker believes that athletes should save their energy for competing rather than dwelling on problems.

“To all my fellow athletes from India, we are going to have some issues. I have seen some issues circulating on social media and people have been telling me that these are issues,” Bhaker said in a video message shared by the Indian Olympic Association.

“Regardless of the problems we have, this is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience. We have to make sure we enjoy the time instead of complaining,” she added.

‘WE WORKED SO HARD’

For Bhaker, the priority is clear: the preparation is already done and the athletes must now focus on executing their plans when they compete.

“We’ve prepared as best we can, so we have to try to perform as well as we can. We’ve worked so hard to be here and we shouldn’t waste our energy pointing out that it’s not right and that it’s not right,” she said.

“A medal may come or not, that’s another story, but we have to give our best.”

Bhaker’s message comes as India begin their campaign with a sizeable contingent at the Games. India has sent 499 athletes to the 2026 Asian Games and competitors are expected to participate in 36 sports. The country had its most successful campaign at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where it won 107 medals, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze.

The 24-year-old shooter herself will carry considerable expectations in Japan. At the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, she became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at the only edition of the games, he won bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol with Sarabjot Singh.

FROM 16 YEARS AFTER VLAJNISIC

The Asian Games also offers Bhaker a chance to reflect on how far she has come since her debut at the event as a teenager.

“When I heard about it (being selected as one of the flag bearers), I had memories of my earlier days. When I started, I never thought that I would ever reach this far. It is definitely a feeling of pride and honor,” she said.

Bhaker recalled that she was just 16 years old when she competed at the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia. She did not attend the opening ceremony then, so her selection as one of India’s flag bearers for the 2026 edition was particularly meaningful.

She is competing in three events in Aichi-Nagoya – the Women’s 10m Air Pistol, the Women’s 25m Pistol and the Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol.

While organizational matters remain part of the wider conversation surrounding the Games, Bhaker’s message was aimed at keeping athletes focused on what they traveled to Japan to do: compete, perform and make the most of a major international sporting opportunity.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

19 Sep 2026 13:59 IST