Asian Games: Medal eludes Manu Bhaker as women disappoint in 10m air pistol

Manu Bhaker had three chances to stay alive in the women’s 10m air pistol final. She survived every time. But when it came time to push for a medal, the Olympic medalist couldn’t find the extra shot she needed.

Bhaker finished fifth in the final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Wednesday, 23 September, as India failed to defend the women’s individual and team gold medals it won at the 2022 Asian Games.

Asian Games Live: Update 23 September

The 24-year-old, who qualified third for the finals with a 579-20x, remained in the fight for medals deep into the knockout stages. She was in bronze position when she started the sixth series with an amazing 10.8.

But the advantage lasted only one shot. Courtesy: PTI

Bhaker followed with 10.8 with 9.6 and slipped out of the medal positions, finishing fifth with 181.1. She looked dejected as she left the range, going through several elimination scares but unable to make it to the podium.

The result means Bhaker is still waiting for his first individual medal of the Asian Games. She won a bronze in the same event at the Paris Olympics, along with another bronze in the mixed team event, but the Asian Games podium still eluded her.

South Korea’s Choo Gaeun took the gold with an Asian Games record 246.3, while China’s Shen Yiyao and Jiang Ranxin rounded out the podium.

10m AIR PISTOL DISAPPOINTMENT

Disappointment started for India even before the final.

The women’s 10m air pistol team of Bhaker, Esha Singh and Suruchi Inder Singh missed out on a medal by the narrowest of margins. India and Vietnam were level on 1719 points, but Vietnam had 46 inside 10s compared to India’s 44 and won the bronze. India had to settle for fourth place.

It was a significant step down from Hangzhou 2022, where Palak Gulia and Esha Singh won individual gold and silver, while the Indian women also won team gold.

Bhaker was the only Indian to reach the singles final this time. Esha finished 15th in qualifying with 572, while Suruchi was 26th with 568.

SKEET WINS TEAM BRONZE

However, Indian firing elsewhere at the range offered some solace.

The women’s skeet team of Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari Chauhan won the bronze with a total score of 331. Raiza and Parinaaz both shot 111 while Maheshwari contributed 109. China won gold and Kazakhstan silver.

The skeet result also kept two Indian shooters in contention for an individual medal, with Raiza and Parinaaz qualifying for the individual finals.

The bronze medal was later followed by the men’s skeet team where Anant Jeet Singh, Bhavteg Gill, Mahiraj Ahmad finished on the podium. Anant Jeet also qualified for the singles final.

However, the 10m air pistol campaign ended without a medal for Bhaker. There’s still another chance. She will return to the range for the women’s 25m pistol, where she is the defending champion at the Asian Games.

IMPORTANT FIRING RESULTS

– Women’s 10m Air Pistol Final: Manu Bhaker – 5th, 181.1

– Women’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification: Manu Bhaker – 3rd, 579-20x

– Women’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification: Esha Singh – 15th, 572nd

– Women’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification: Suruchi Inder Singh – 26th, 568

– Women’s 10m Air Pistol Team: India — 4th, 1719-44x

– Women’s 10m air pistol team: Vietnam — bronze, 1719-46x

– Women’s Skeet Team: India – Bronze, 331

– Men’s Skeet Team: India – Bronze, 346

– Women’s individual skeet: Raiza Dhillon – qualifying for the final

– Women’s individual skeet: Parinaaz Dhaliwal – Qualifying for the final

– Women’s 25m Pistol: Manu Bhaker — defending champion

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

23 Sep 2026 11:17 IST