Missed Mr. Jaspal a lot: Manu Bhaker emotional after opening ceremony of Asian Games

Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker was overcome with emotion after carrying the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Nagoya on Saturday and said she missed her late coach Jaspal Rana on a day that meant so much to her.

“I missed Jaspal sir a lot today. It was a really emotional day without him by my side,” Bhaker said after the ceremony.

Rana, a former champion shooter who later became a highly influential coach, has passed away June 11, aged 49. He played a major role in Bhaker’s career, leading her to two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

For Bhaker, Saturday’s ceremony was special not only because she was selected as one of India’s flag bearers, but also because it brought back memories of the advice Rana had given her during the early years of her career.

Rana was particularly strict about Bhaker’s participation in opening ceremonies at multi-sport events. Since her competitions often started soon after the ceremony, he told her that she could only participate if she was the flag bearer. Otherwise, she was better off watching it on TV and saving her energy for the competition.

Bhaker has previously recalled how this advice shaped her approach to such opportunities.

She missed the opening ceremony at her first Asian Games in 2018 when she was based in Palembang while the main athletes’ village was in Jakarta. Later that year, she attended the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, but Rana emphasized putting the competition first.

Five years later, Bhaker found herself in a very different position.

Standing at the Mizuho Park athletics stadium with the Indian flag in her hands, the 24-year-old shooter became one of the faces of the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony. It was a moment Rana had once told her she should experience only if she earned the right to lead the contingent.

For Bhaker, his absence made it even more difficult.

He will now turn his attention back to competition as he prepares for his third Asian Games. Bhaker will compete in the mixed team events in women’s 10m air pistol, women’s 25m pistol and 10m air pistol.

The Indian shooter remains the only athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics. In Nagoya-Aichi, he will look to add another chapter to the career that Rana has so profoundly helped shape.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

19 Sep 2026 19:18 IST