Indian Ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf, hosted Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker and her coach Jaspal Rana at his Paris residence. The meeting took place against the iconic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, and Ashraf shared his admiration for Bhaker’s maturity, wisdom, and grounded nature.
In a post on X, Ashraf expressed his pleasure in hosting Bhaker and Rana, noting their focus, commitment, and the inspiration they bring.
“Mature, wise, grounded, witty. Focused and committed. More success & glory ahead for her. Learnt much from her. Will surely inspire a generation,” Ashraf wrote.
During the visit, Ashraf presented Bhaker with an English translation of the Bhagavad Gita, calling it “a lifetime of inspiration from a timeless and universal treasure of great wisdom.”
The gesture was spontaneous, as Bhaker had shown interest in the book, leading Ashraf to gift it to her. He also gifted two coffee table books about Paris, including one by renowned photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Bhaker, who made history at the Paris Olympics by winning bronze medals in both the 10 meters air pistol women’s event and the 10 meters air pistol mixed event, has been honoured as Bharat’s flagbearer for the closing ceremony.
She expressed her pride and gratitude for the role on X, stating, “Leading the outstanding Indian contingent with the tricolor in my hands with millions around the world watching is a truly humbling opportunity and one that I will cherish forever.”
In an interview, Bhaker reflected on the impact of the Bhagavad Gita on her life and career. “I read a lot of Gita. What was going through my mind was, just do what you are meant to do. You can’t control the outcome of your destiny. In Gita, Lord Krishna says to Arjun, ‘Focus on karma, not on the outcome of the karma,’” she shared.
