New Delhi: India’s two-time Olympic medalist Manu Barker She said on Monday she had made key tweaks to her equipment ahead of the Asian Games and World Championships, hoping they would improve her medal prospects at the two major events.After an incomplete 2025 season, Manu revealed she has switched back to her old Pardini Armi pistol in the 25m sport pistol event, the same setup she used at the Paris Olympics, where she finished fourth and won two bronze medals in the 10m air pistol event.Her decision came after a difficult period with a newer, high-tech Pardini model, which did not meet her expectations. “The problem stems primarily from the pistol’s trigger mechanism and grip. I have gone back to an older, more reliable setup,” Manu told TOI on the sidelines of an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the National Rifle Association of India.When it came time to return to a familiar weapon in a project, Manu chose to upgrade in her pet 10m air pistol project. “Based on my previous experience, I am now using a new Morini pistol. I hope to achieve better results with it. However, the core technology remains the same,” she said.Looking ahead, the 24-year-old stressed the importance of international exposure before major competitions and said she was open to training abroad. “I think it will be good that the Indian team will go abroad for training camps. I will leave that decision to the Football Association.”Meanwhile, plans to house some Asian Games athletes on docked cruise ships have raised concerns in India that athletes in static sports such as shooting may feel uncomfortable, with worries about dizziness, imbalance or nausea, and that they may need time to readjust before competition.“I hope the organizers can provide uniform and stable living conditions for all participating athletes,” Manu added.
