I hope the love stays, please don't be angry if I don't win another medal: Manu Bhaker
Chateauroux (France), Jul 30: At 22, Manu Bhaker has already become one of India's greatest athletes by winning two medals in the same Olympics and she has just one plea ahead of her third and final event at the Games -- "don't be angry if I can't add another one".
Bhaker, who became the first athlete in independent India to win two medals in the same Olympics, will compete in the 25m sports pistol qualifications on August 2. She has so far won bronze medals in the women's 10m air pistol and the mixed 10m air pistol events.
"I hope the love stays. I will definitely try my best. I hope people are not disappointed. Please don't be angry if I don't win another medal," she said, voicing a fear that most elite athletes live with, despite her epoch-making performance at Chateauroux's shooting range.
Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, who is also 22, made easy work of the Korean challenge in the mixed team event on Tuesday.
"The feeling is surreal because I hadn't hoped I'll win two medals in a single Olympics," said the history-making shooter from Haryana's Jhajjar.
"There is one more match to go (in 25m sports pistol). So, I am looking forward to the next one, but I am grateful that I got another medal for India," said added.
She added that whenever Indian athletes represent the country, the only dream they harbour is to win an Olympic medal, and she would like to garner as much success at the Games as possible.
"This (bronze medal today) is part of the dream; one part is in the bag and the other one is with me here. An athlete, when he plays for India, his dream is to win a medal at the Olympics and that was my dream as well. And, I would want to win as many medals as possible in the Olympics," she said.
Bhaker's performance here has come after a failed campaign at the Tokyo Games in 2021 where a pistol malfunction stopped her from achieving her Olympic dream.
She said that heartbreak made her value the medals here even more.
"After the experience in Tokyo, I realise how special winning this (medal) is. When I start on the lane, I know I have worked hard and so many people have supported me throughout my journey. Olympics is a special stage and so many people watch it," she added.
On whether her performance here would make her a sporting icon much like former 10m air rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra, who became a household name after winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Manu said the status, if at all she gets it, will not stop her from working hard and aiming for more glory.
"I can't say that about myself (becoming a female sporting icon); if people call me that then I am grateful. But my journey will continue and there's no stopping for me, I will keep working hard even if I win or lose. I'll keep my head high and try my best.
Manu, the second youngest Indian athlete to win an Olympic medal after shuttler PV Sindhu, added that she looks up to ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and Sindhu because they have "proved themselves".
"I've always looked up to athletes like Neeraj (Chopra) (PV) Sindhu, who have always been able to prove themselves at certain levels.
"They have always been my seniors, I can't compare (myself with them)," said Bhaker, a former competitor of the Khelo India Games and a Target Olympic Podium Scheme athlete.
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J’khand: All 7 on board air ambulance killed in crash, bodies brought to hospital for post-mortem
Ranchi (PTI): All seven persons on board an air ambulance were killed after the aircraft crashed near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, and their bodies have been brought to a hospital for post-mortem examination, officials said on Tuesday.
The Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, was en route to Delhi from Ranchi when it crashed on Monday evening in the Bariatu Panchayat area of Simaria, located deep inside a forest, killing all seven onboard, including two pilots.
"We have brought all the seven bodies for post-mortem at Sadar Hospital, Chatra. The crash is being investigated," an official told PTI.
ALSO READ: Air ambulance with 7 onboard to Delhi from Ranchi crashes in Jharkhand's Chatra
The aircraft took off from Ranchi airport at 7.11 pm and went missing around 7.30 pm. It lost contact with the air traffic control about 20 minutes after departure, he said.
Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar said inclement weather could be a possible reason behind the crash, though the exact cause would be ascertained after a detailed probe.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari said the state government will conduct a probe into how permission was given to the aircraft to fly during “inclement weather”. He also said proper compensation would be given to the kin of the deceased.
Terming the crash extremely unfortunate, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said unpleasant weather could be one of the reasons, which will be determined by the probe.
In a post on X, former chief minister and BJP leader Champai Soren said he was deeply saddened.
The deceased have been identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.
Meanwhile, a lingering sense of grief prevailed in Chatra district, as the near and dear ones of those killed in the crash expressed shock and disbelief.
Bajrangi Prasad, the father of deceased Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, said he had sold all his land to make his son a doctor, who was posted at Sadar Hospital in Ranchi.
"He has a seven-year-old son... He was meritorious and had completed his MBBS from Odisha’s Cuttack," Prasad, who hails from Bihar’s Aurangabad district, said.
Family members of Sanjay Kumar (41), however, blamed the “poor” health infrastructure behind the tragedy.
"Had we given proper treatment to my brother-in-law Sanjay in Ranchi, precious lives could have been saved. I lost both both Sanjay and sister Archana Devi in the incident," Kumar said.
Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G had earlier told PTI that the bodies of all seven deceased were retrieved from the crash site and shifted to Chatra hospital for post-mortem examination.
In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the Beechcraft C90 aircraft (VT-AJV) was operating a medical evacuation flight on the Ranchi-Delhi sector when it crashed in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district.
“The aircraft was airborne from Ranchi at 19:11 IST. After establishing contact with Kolkata at 19:34 IST, the aircraft lost communication and radar contact with Kolkata at approximately 100 nautical miles south-east of Varanasi,” it said, adding that there were seven people on board, including two crew members.
An Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team has been dispatched to the crash site.
According to the DGCA website, Delhi-based non-scheduled operator Redbird has six aircraft in its fleet, including the one that crashed.
Anant Sinha, CEO of Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi, told PTI that the air ambulance was arranged by one of their patients.
"The patient, Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Chandwa in Latehar district, was brought to the hospital with 65 per cent burn injuries on February 16. He was being treated in the hospital," he said.
The family members decided to take him to Delhi for better treatment, Sinha said.
"They arranged for an air ambulance on Monday. The patient left the hospital for Delhi around 4.30 pm," he said.
