Manu Bhaker misses podium at ISSF World Championships

Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh fell short in the women’s 10m air pistol final at the ISSF World Championships. Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, briefly led before a costly 8.8 on her 14th shot pushed her out. Singh closed sixth after mixed series in a tense medal round. India, however, secured silver in the team event.

Final outcome and key scores

China’s Yao Qianxun, 20, won gold with 243.0. Ho Ching Shing of Hong Kong-China took silver with 241.2. China’s Wei Qian bagged bronze with 221.4. Bhaker ended seventh on 139.5 after leading with a 10.7 on Shot 13. Singh produced a notable 10.7 but an 8.4 on Shot 14 stalled momentum, placing her sixth in the eight-shooter final.

Indian contingent: qualification to team silver

The Indian trio earned team silver on a total of 1740. Esha Singh shot 583 to qualify fourth, including a perfect 100 in her third series. Manu Bhaker qualified sixth with 580. World No.1 Suruchi Inder Singh, 19, scored 577 and placed 14th in a 99-strong field, missing the final.

Form guide and recent Indian results

Bhaker arrived with Paris Olympic bronzes in individual and mixed team events. Singh carried World Cup gold form from Ningbo. India sits fifth on the medals table with one gold, three silver, and two bronze. China leads with six gold, three silver, and two bronze. Notably, Anish Bhanwala clinched 25m rapid-fire pistol silver, while Elavenil Valarivan secured 10m air rifle bronze in Cairo.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Women’s 10m air pistol finals use elimination after 24 initial shots, rewarding consistency.
• ISSF team totals aggregate three shooters’ qualification scores for medals.
• Hong Kong-China competes under ISSF designation; athlete nationality appears as “HKG-CHN”.
• India’s best Olympic rapid-fire pistol finish is Vijay Kumar’s 2012 silver.

Tactical takeaways for India

The final underscored the premium on holding tens during elimination strings. Both Indians fired high 10s but suffered at critical shots, amplifying the risk in a tight field. Depth remains a positive: team silver, Bhanwala’s rapid-fire surge, and Elavenil’s rifle bronze signal breadth across events. Coaches will target shot-to-shot recovery and pressure routines before the season-closing finals.