New Delhi: Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker will continue her Asian Games preparation under the guidance of Serbian pistol expert Jelena Arunovic, who has been attached to the star shooter by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to oversee her coaching programme and training needs. Manu was being coached by Jaspal Rana, who passed away suddenly following cardiac complications on June 12.Jelena, the head foreign coach of the Indian pistol team, will now occupy Manu’s coaching corner during national and international competitions, a role that had long been filled by Rana, TOI has learnt. The arrangement has been worked out by the NRAI in consultation with Manu, who has agreed to the plan.“Till now, Rana was taking care of all of Manu’s coaching and training needs and guiding her through competitions. After his death, a vacuum was created. The NRAI felt it was important to attach Jelena with Manu and provide her every possible support during this challenging period,” NRAI secretary general Pawan Singh said.“This is a sensitive phase for Manu. Jelena will now sit in her coaching corner and guide her during training camps and competitions,” added Singh.A coaching camp for national squad athletes is currently underway in Dehradun which will conclude on June 25.The move comes at a time when the double Olympic medallist is coping with the loss of her mentor, guide and coach while preparing for a packed international calendar that includes the Asian Games, ISSF World Cups and World Championships.Rana’s death has left a significant void in Manu’s support system. The former world junior champion and Padma Shri awardee had nurtured Manu from her formative years and played a pivotal role in shaping her career. It was Rana who planned her training schedules, competition strategy and long-term programme, including preparations for the upcoming Asian Games.Under Rana’s guidance, Manu scripted history at the Paris Olympics, winning two bronze medals. After a brief separation in 2021, the coach-athlete duo reunited in 2023 and worked closely towards the Paris Games, where their partnership delivered the country’s most successful shooting campaign by an individual athlete.Rana, who was serving as NRAI’s high-performance coach for the 25m pistol discipline, passed away at the age of 49 after suffering a heart attack. One of India’s greatest shooters, he won 13 gold medals across the Asian Games and CWG before establishing himself as one of the country’s most successful coaches.Jelena, who was appointed head foreign pistol coach earlier this year and is contracted through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is also expected to guide Manu through the next Olympic cycle.Meanwhile, India’s rifle and pistol shooters will attend a preparatory camp in Changwon, South Korea, ahead of the Asiad after competing at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China. Shotgun shooters, however, will continue their preparations in India, informed Singh.