Paris 2024: Manu Bhaker advances to the final after finishing third in the 10m Air Pistol Women's Qualification

Manu Bhaker, an exceptional Indian shooter, qualified for the final of the women's 10m Air Pistol event on Saturday by placing third with an amazing total score of 580-27x. Bhaker fired 27 inner tens (27x) after a good start and maintained consistency throughout the 45-athlete field. She scored 97/100 on her first ten strokes, seven of which were inner tens. The 22-year-old Indian shooter matched her success in the second series, shooting 97 points. 

With 292/300 at the midway point of the six-series competition, Manu Bhaker was in a strong position to finish in the top eight and go to the finals. After placing fifth in the women's 25-meter pistol event at the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships, Bhaker was awarded an Olympic quota for India for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Bhaker, who set a Commonwealth Games record in the women's 10m air pistol event on the Gold Coast in 2018, is the youngest Indian to earn a gold medal at an ISSF World Cup.

Three years after the agony of the Tokyo Olympics, Bhaker has made a spectacular comeback by reaching the final at the Paris Olympics. This is a big return for the young shooter, who had contemplated leaving the sport previously.

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Manu Bhaker performance boosted India's confidence

Bhaker's trip to the finals was nothing short of remarkable. She demonstrated her expertise and dedication throughout the qualification rounds, ending in a memorable performance. Her sixth and final series finished with a respectable 96, putting her total score to 580-27x. Bhaker scored 97, 97, 98, 96, and 96 in her prior rounds, therefore her performance was steady in achieving this level.

The Indian contingent was initially let down by the day's events, but Bhaker's outstanding performance gave them a much-needed lift and rekindled their hopes of winning a medal in the women's 10m Air Pistol event. Fans are thrilled that Bhaker qualified for the final and are looking forward to seeing her perform again.