Manu Bhaker Wins Silver in Asian Championship 25m Pistol

Olympic double bronze medallist came agonisingly close to gold at the Asian Shooting Championship, settling for silver in the women’s 25m pistol after a tense shoot-off on Monday. The final was marked by dramatic swings in momentum, underlining the depth and competitiveness of women’s pistol shooting in Asia.

Thrilling Final Decided by Shoot-off

Manu was locked in a high-intensity duel with Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Trang, with both shooters finishing regulation at an identical score of 35. The deadlock forced a shoot-off, where Trang displayed greater composure to clinch gold, leaving the Indian shooter narrowly short of the top podium spot. The contest remained finely balanced throughout, with minimal margins separating the finalists.

Indian Shooters Dominate Medal Contention

The final featured strong Indian representation, with and Rhythm Sangwan also in contention for much of the match. Esha began confidently with a perfect opening series, while Manu and Trang stayed close behind. Scores fluctuated after each series, reflecting the mounting pressure and precision required at this level.

Momentum Shifts and Dramatic Turns

Trang gained a brief advantage with a flawless sixth series, but the race reopened when she faltered in the seventh. Manu and Esha capitalised immediately, tightening the gap. Esha briefly moved into the lead after the eighth series, only to miss all targets in the ninth, ending her gold challenge and confirming bronze. Manu’s late surge forced the shoot-off, but the Vietnamese shooter prevailed in sudden death.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Asian Shooting Championship is a key continental event organised under the Asian Shooting Confederation.
• The 25m pistol event includes both precision and rapid-fire stages in qualification.
• India often fields multiple finalists in women’s pistol events at Asian-level competitions.
• Shoot-offs are used to decide medals when finalists are tied after regulation series.

Strong Indian Performance Across Categories

Earlier, Esha topped qualification with 589, while Manu followed with 584 as three Indians advanced to the final. India also secured gold in the women’s team event, combining for a total of 1,751. Success extended to the junior category, where Naamya Kapoor won gold in the 25m pistol junior final after another shoot-off, highlighting India’s growing strength and depth in shooting disciplines.