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CWG shooting champ Manu unperturbed with heavy competition schedule (IANS Interview)
By Abhishek Purohit
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) Teenaged shooting sensation Manu Bhaker is bracing up for a busy period of three to four months ahead with the ISSF World Cups, World Championships, Asian Games and the Youth Olympic Games lined up one after another.
Manu, who won the women’s 10 Metre air pistol gold with a record score at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Gold Coast, will also participate in the ISSF Junior World Cup next month, while the World Cup in Munich is to be held later this month.
After the Asian Games in Indonesia between August 18 to 27, she will also compete in the ISSF World Championships in South Korea from August 31 to September 15. The Youth Olympic Games will take place between October 6 to 18 in Buenos Aires.
Asked why she will still compete at the junior level when she has already won gold medals at the senior World Cup level, Manu said that she does not want to miss out on the competition experience.
Speaking after being roped in as daily hygiene brand PeeSafe as its first ever brand ambassador on Wednesday, the 16-year-old from Haryana told IANS: “All these tournaments are important and I will try my best to win all of them. Whenever I will get the opportunity, I will play, it doesn’t matter whether it is junior or senior meets. The more I play, it will help my game get better and I will be more experienced.”
The CWG was her first major senior tournament but from here onwards, pressure of expectations may mount. But the youngster remains unpeturbed.
“I don’t think about pressure. I don’t set expectations. My aim is just to do well, produce good scores.
“Some times I will win and sometimes I may not win, but I will just try my best. It is not necessary that we will win every time, but getting up strongly after going down is what matters eventually and your character comes through,” Manu, who got her first taste of shooting at the range of her school Universal Senior Secondary School in Jhajjar more than two years ago, said.
Having got the CWG experience, Manu picked out the Asian Games as a more difficult competition.
“This will be my first Asiad. So I don’t know much about it but I know that there will be more countries as compared to the CWG. May be the competition level will be higher at the Asian Games,” she reckoned.
On her association with the brand PeeSafe, Manu said: “Ever since I started playing, using unhygienic and infectious washrooms has been my biggest fear. For me, this problem was something that is meant to be dealt with.”
“Peesafe is an iconic and ground breaking brand and I am glad that today, I am able to address the hygiene and sanitation problems with the help of the brand. I believe we will together be able to bring change by helping Indian population adopt hygienic lifestyle habits and stay fit,” she added.
(Abhishek Purohit can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.