Manu Bhaker had three opportunities to secure a medal in the women’s 10m air pistol final. Despite surviving each elimination round, the Olympic medallist fell short of delivering the decisive shot needed. Competing on Wednesday, September 23, in Aichi-Nagoya at the Asian Games, Bhaker ultimately finished fifth, failing to replicate the success of the Indian women’s team that clinched gold in this event at the 2022 Asian Games.

The 24-year-old Bhaker qualified for the final in third place, having achieved a score of 579-20x. She remained in contention for a medal well into the elimination rounds and began the sixth series in third place, buoyed by a remarkable shot of 10.8. However, her standing quickly diminished after her following shot registered a score of 9.6.

As a result, Bhaker concluded the final round with a total score of 181.1. Her disappointment was evident as she exited the shooting range, having navigated several challenges but unable to secure a place on the podium. This outing leaves Bhaker still pursuing her first individual medal at the Asian Games, despite winning bronze at the Paris Olympics in similar events.

Team Performance in Women’s 10m Air Pistol

India’s performance in the women’s 10m air pistol team event also fell short of expectations. The team, comprised of Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Suruchi Inder Singh, narrowly missed out on a medal. Both India and Vietnam finished with identical scores of 1719 points; however, Vietnam secured the bronze due to having more inner-10s, scoring 46 to India’s 44. This marked a notable decline from the 2022 Asian Games, where Palak Gulia and Esha Singh achieved gold and silver in individual contests, as well as team gold for India.

Bhaker was the sole representative to reach the individual final this time. Esha Singh finished in fifteenth place during qualification with a score of 572, whereas Suruchi Inder Singh placed twenty-sixth with 568. This outcome reflects a significant disparity from the prior Games’ achievements.

Medal Success in Other Shooting Events

Despite the setbacks in the women’s 10m air pistol competition, Indian shooters found success in other areas. The women’s skeet team, made up of Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal, and Maheshwari Chauhan, achieved a bronze medal with a total score of 331. Both Raiza and Parinaaz contributed significantly with scores of 111, while Maheshwari added 109 to the tally. Overall, China claimed the gold medal, followed by Kazakhstan with silver.

This skeet victory advanced both Raiza and Parinaaz into contention for individual medals as they qualified for the finals. Following this achievement, the men’s skeet team also secured a bronze, with Anant Jeet Singh, Bhavteg Gill, and Mahiraj Ahmad rounding off the scores. Anant Jeet qualified for the individual finals, reflecting a stronger performance from this segment of shooters.

Amid these outcomes, Manu Bhaker’s quest for a medal in the 10m air pistol event has concluded, but another chance lies ahead. She is set to compete in the women’s 25m pistol event, where she is the reigning champion from the previous Asian Games.

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