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Indian shooter Manu Bhaker had a memorable campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 22-year-old became the first Indian to win multiple medals in a single Olympics and bagged two bronze medals in shooting. Manu won a bronze medal in Women’s 10m Air Pistol and in the Mixed 10m Air Pistol along with Sarabjot Singh. She also came close to her third medal in the 2024 Olympics as the finished fourth in the Women's 25m Air pistol event.
After coming back from her memorable Olympics campaign in Paris, Manu Bhaker and the other Indian Olympians got a chance to meet with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, this was not the first time Manu Bhaker had a chance to have a talk with the Indian PM. On the occasion of National Sports Day, Manu Bhaker reminisced about her interactions with PM Modi when she was 16 years old and also revealed how he inspired her at her young age. Manu Bhaker also revealed how PM Modi motivated when failed to win a medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
"I was just 16 when PM Modi told me I would be successful and offered his personal support. During the interaction, he took me aside and said, 'You are very young. You will achieve even greater success and reach out to me whenever you need anything.' This was a great source of motivation for me," Manu Bhaker was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
“PM Modi told me to be confident and focus on my goal. He keeps track of every detail about each player," Manu added.
Kasa Kai Bhau: Swapnil Kusale first meeting with PM Modi after winning bronze in 2024 Olympics
India’s another medalist in the 2024 Paris Olympics Swapnil Kusale also recalled his first meeting with PM Modi after coming back to India. Kusale bagged a bronze medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Position (3P) Men’s event. He revealed that PM Modi greeted him in his mother language and said 'Kaska haibhau?'
"This personal touch, speaking in our mother tongue, instantly built a connection with the Prime Minister," Kusale said as quoted by Free Press Journal.
"He stressed the importance of respecting our coaches and playing with integrity. He advised us to stay focused on training and diet, especially in light of the increasing issues with doping” Kusale said.
