India's Manu Bhaker has secured a place in the final of the women's 10m Air Pistol event, finishing 3rd with an impressive total score of 580-27x in the qualifying event on Saturday. Bhaker shot 27 inner tens (27x) after starting strong and remained consistent from the beginning in the 45-athlete field. In the first series of 10 shots, she scored 97/100, with seven of those being inner 10s. The 22-year-old Indian shooter repeated her performance in the second series, scoring another 97. At the halfway mark of the six-series event, Manu had accumulated 292/300, positioning herself well for a top-eight finish to qualify for the finals.
Three years after the heartbreak of the Tokyo Olympics, Bhaker has made a sensational return by securing a place in the final at the Paris Olympics. This marks a significant comeback for the young shooter who considered walking away from the sport sometime back. Bhaker's journey to the final was nothing short of impressive. She showcased her skill and determination throughout the qualification rounds, culminating in a standout performance. Her sixth and final series ended with a solid score of 96, bringing her overall score to 580-27x. This score was achieved through a consistent series of performances, with Bhaker scoring 97, 97, 98, 96, and 96 in her previous rounds.
On the other hand, Rhythm Sangwan, another promising talent, concluded her campaign with a score of 573-14x, placing her 15th in the overall standings. Despite falling short of making it to the final, Sangwan's effort was commendable, showcasing her potential and determination. The day's events began with some initial disappointments for the Indian contingent, but Bhaker's stellar performance provided a much-needed boost, reigniting hopes for a medal in the women's 10m Air Pistol event. Bhaker's qualification for the final brings optimism and excitement, as fans eagerly await her next performance.
Earlier, Sarabjot Singh and Arjun Singh Cheema showed promise but did not reach the men’s 10m air pistol final. Sarabjot finished ninth with a score of 577 in the qualifications, while Arjun ended 18th with 574. The Indian shooters also fell short in the 10m air rifle mixed team qualifications. Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta finished sixth with a total score of 628.7, while Elavenil Valarivan and Sandeep Singh placed 12th with 626.3. Ramita and Babuta came close to the medal round, ranking fifth with three shots remaining, but ultimately fell 1.0 points short.
