The Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games marked Bhaker’s first major competition since the sudden death of Jaspal Rana, the former Asian champion who had coached her for years, and she finished just outside the medals in the 10m air pistol event.
Bhaker, who has struggled with form over the past two years after a high at the Paris competition, said the emotional weight of Rana’s passing and the recent death of her grandmother have kept her largely withdrawn from the media and public life since June.
During a post‑match interview, Bhaker began by describing the competition before she became overwhelmed, saying, “Of course I miss him; he was the best of the best, the Asian champion… When a person has been a big part of your life, it just stays with you.” She paused, tears streaming down her face, before returning to answer further questions.
She recalled Rana’s emphasis on process, noting that “any given day, any given point, whenever you shoot, you have to be able to give your best and follow your process,” and added that he taught her to live fully despite life’s unpredictability.
Bhaker said her performance in Japan was “significantly better than the challenges I have been facing in my training in Japan,” but admitted a disastrous 8.9 on the eighth shot “definitely compromised my chances” of reaching the podium.
She also mentioned training difficulties such as sunlight affecting her focus and limited visibility of the range sides, yet emphasized that she stayed focused on the process and that most of her shots went as planned.
Looking ahead, Bhaker still hopes to contend for a medal in the 25m pistol event, acknowledging that she will need “every bit of both mental and emotional strength” to improve on her Asian Games showing.