Manu Bhaker Shines in 10m Air Pistol Amidst Mixed Results for Indian Shooters

Manu Bhaker excelled in the 10m women's air pistol final, making up for the underwhelming performances of fellow Indian shooters at the Olympic Games. Bhaker finished third in the qualifications, while Rhythm Sangwan ended 15th. In men's events, Sarabjot Singh and Arjun Singh Cheema failed to reach the finals, and Indian mixed rifle teams also faced early exits.

Manu Bhaker, displaying supreme confidence, excelled in the 10m women's air pistol final, salvaging the day for Indian shooting after a rough start at the Olympic Games on Saturday. The 22-year-old shot a 580 to finish third in the qualifications, where Hungarian Veronika Major secured the top spot with a score of 582. Rhythm Sangwan, the other Indian competitor, ended 15th with a score of 573. The final is scheduled for Sunday.

Bhaker, who was visibly emotional after her disappointing debut in Tokyo three years ago, is aiming to secure an Olympic medal to add to her impressive resume. Known for her international success from a young age, the Haryana shooter initially scored 97 points to take the fourth position in Series 1. Despite a minor setback in the fifth series, she maintained her position and eventually qualified for the final.

In the men's 10m air pistol event, Indian shooters Sarabjot Singh and Arjun Singh Cheema showed brief moments of promise but ultimately failed to make it to the final. Sarabjot finished ninth with a score of 577, and Arjun placed 18th with 574. Sarabjot missed the eighth qualifying spot by just one inner 10, while Cheema showed potential but lost momentum in the later stages. Additionally, Indian mixed rifle teams were eliminated in the early qualification rounds, with Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta finishing sixth and Elavenil Valarivan and Sandeep Singh twelfth. The event saw strong performances from China, Korea, and Kazakhstan, with China winning the event's first gold medal.

(With inputs from agencies.)