Manu Bhaker after leading India at Asian Games parade: ‘Missed Jaspal sir a lot’

Manu Bhaker, one of the two flagbearers for India at the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony, expressed her emotional connection to the Games due to the absence of her late coach, Jaspal Rana. The 24-year-old Indian shooter returned to Nagoya, Japan, to participate in her first major multisport event following Rana's passing in June, aged 49.

Rana had played a crucial role in Bhaker's development, particularly after he mentored her ahead of the Paris Olympics, where she secured two bronze medals. Bhaker, the first Indian to win two Olympic medals at a single Games, is aiming to add to India's team gold from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. This year's Asian Games saw logistical challenges, but Bhaker urged her fellow athletes to embrace the unique experience despite the obstacles they might face.