Expect shooters to win more at Paris Olympics, had belief in Manu Bhaker, says IOA chief PT Usha

New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha said she had pinned her hopes on shooters winning multiple medals at Paris Olympics and is glad Manu Bhaker excelled with two bronze medals.

Shooters disappointed en masses at Tokyo 2020 and at Rio 2016 but in Paris they have claimed all the three medals that India have won in the competition so far.

India fielded a 21-member shooting contingent with Manu Bhaker becoming the first Indian shooter to bag two medals in an edition of Olympics.

She claimed bronze in 10m individual women’s air pistol event and in mixed team event partnering Sarabjot Singh. Swapnil Kusale added another bronze to India’s tally on Thursday in the 50m rifle 3 positions event.

“In the last two Olympics shooting didn’t win medals but Manu gave a good start but we were expecting good from Manu earlier also. We are frequently in contact with Manu’s personal coach Jaspal Rana and he was very confident about Manu and knew that Manu is going to do well,” Usha told PTI.

“We were expecting medals from shooters and now we have won three and expecting more from shooters. Great moment for me and overall all of us.”

India had won seven medals at Tokyo, their best ever return at Olympics and Usha is confident that mark would be bettered at Paris.

“We have won seven medals in Tokyo but we should win more than seven here and hoping good results from other disciplines as well. Our focus is on the athletes, whatever the athletes want IOA has done everything for them,” she said.

The former sprint queen said she believes reigning javelin champion Neraj Chopra is primed to win again. “Already Neeraj has shown his performance two times and I hope he will do good now also,” she said.

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