‘Feeling defeated many times’: Manu relives Sooryavanshi journey amid row

New Delhi: Two-time Olympic medalist Manu Barker She marked a major milestone in her career on Tuesday with an emotional reflection on social media, marking her tenth anniversary in competitive shooting. The 24-year-old, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reflects on the highs, setbacks and lessons learned on her journey from child prodigy to one of India’s biggest sports stars.

“Today I mark ten years in my athletic career. Never could I have imagined that my journey has been so beautiful, so dedicated and inspiring,” Barker wrote on Instagram, along with memories of different stages of her career.Recalling her early obsession with the sport, the striker wrote: “I remember putting on my first India jersey and I could never take it off! Even in the summer.”

She also spoke about the difficult stages in her journey, especially when she narrowly missed out on a medal despite her impressive performance.“Honestly, I did feel defeated a lot of times,” she admitted, looking back on her 2018 and fifth-place finishes in 2023 Asian Games Despite placing at the top of both editions of qualifying.Barker also reflected on her breakthrough year in 2018, when she won Commonwealth Games gold in Australia aged just 16. “This gives me confidence and I am so grateful for all the support and love you have given me,” she wrote.Just a day before she published this article, an interaction at NRAI’s 75th anniversary event in Delhi sparked an online debate. Barker was asked about teenage cricket star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, before several social media users criticized the line of questioning for taking the focus away from her own achievements.Barker calmly answered questions about Soriyavanshi’s rise, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and support systems for young athletes. “If the mentor is great, the company around you is great, and the people around you are great, then age is just a number,” she said.The exchange sparked a wider discussion online about the dominance of cricket’s narrative vis-à-vis India’s other sporting achievements.