New Delhi, 01 September (H.S.): For Indian trap shooter Manisha Keer, shooting was never part of the plan. Raised in a modest family in a village near Bhopal, Manisha once did not even know that shooting existed as a sport. It was her elder sister Sona who introduced her to the discipline, setting her on a journey that would eventually take her from the national circuit to the international stage.

Recalling her early days, Manisha told the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), “I did not even know what shooting was. I only knew about cricket, volleyball and football. I had no idea about shooting and had never even thought about it.”

Manisha’s elder sister Sona, who was also an athlete, encouraged her to take up shooting. However, entering the sport was far from easy. Coming from a family with limited financial resources, Manisha had to make several compromises to pursue her sporting ambitions.

“My family was not in a position to support me in that way. They could not provide me with everything I wanted. It was very difficult for me,” she said.

Shooting is an expensive sport, and Manisha faced financial difficulties while travelling for competitions. At just 18, she was often forced to make difficult choices to manage her expenses.

“When I travelled for competitions, I faced a lot of challenges. I could not eat the food of my choice and had to save some money,” Manisha said.

Her early days at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy were no easier. Even in the absence of a regular coach, Manisha continued to learn with whatever resources were available to her. Her sister also guided her during this phase.

“Whatever facilities were available at the academy were sufficient for us. I believe you have to move forward with whatever you have,” she said.

That mindset eventually became a defining feature of Manisha’s journey. Rather than dwelling on the lack of facilities, she focused on making the most of the resources available to her and gradually established herself on the international stage.

Manisha won a silver medal in the trap event at the 2018 Junior World Championships. She also secured a silver medal as part of the Indian women’s trap team at the Asian Games.

However, Manisha’s journey has been about much more than medals. Her struggles in the early stages taught her the importance of self-reliance and mental resilience.

“No one can always be there for us. We also have to take care of ourselves. That has been a big lesson for me,” she said.

Manisha’s journey is the story of a girl who once knew virtually nothing about shooting but went on to become an international athlete. “Whatever I had, I learnt with that, and that is how I kept moving forward,” she said.

Over time, the support system around her also grew stronger. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) played an important role in providing her opportunities to compete at national and international events.

“The support from the NRAI has been very important to me. When you come from a family where you do not have everything, an organisation giving you the opportunity to compete, train and represent the country means a lot. I am very grateful for the support and the opportunities I have received,” Manisha said.

With the Asian Games challenge now ahead, Manisha is preparing for another major milestone, drawing on her experience, struggles and confidence as she seeks to add another significant achievement to her career.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar