Teenage sensation Manu Bhaker will not be part of the Indian team heading to Suhl, Germany, for the ISSF Junior World Cup. She has withdrawn from the July 12-20 tournament.

Manu, who recently bagged an Olympics quota in 10 metres air pistol in Munich, wrote to the National Rifle Association of India of her decision. Manu’s place in the squad has gone to Devanshi Rana daughter of Jaspal Rana, the chief coach of the junior pistol programme. Devanshi was the fourth-ranked shooter.

The reason behind Manu’s withdrawal is muddled behind the classic ‘he said she said’ explanation. Manu’s father Ramkishan Bhaker said that the decision was taken because “her coach wanted her to concentrate on bigger competitions”. Rana, however, said the decision was totally hers.

“So once it was decided that she will not participate she wrote a letter to NRAI informing them and said that she will be concentrating on bigger competitions and the federation should send someone else for the Junior World Cup,” he added.