Rashmika claims gold, draws inspiration from idol Bhaker

Rashmika Sahgal stood on the podium after winning the mixed team pistol gold with Kapil, her heart filled with pride as the national anthem was played and the tricolour went up. She also remembered the words of double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker.

- Avishek Roy [e-mail]

At the Asian Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, when Rashmika won the air pistol gold beating a stellar junior field, Manu congratulated her and told her how good she felt hearing the national anthem. Manu was in the senior side at the meet and took bronze. That was a month ago.

It wasn't the first time Rashmika, 17, was meeting Manu, whom she considers her role model. When Rashmika competed in her first nationals in 2023, she went and spoke to Manu, who complimented her. "She (Manu) told me, 'I want to see you shoot next to me'. Her words were a source of motivation, and next year I made it to the team," Rashmika recalls.