Drama unfolded in Jakarta at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship as Manu Bhaker’s gold dream shattered in a shoot-off heartbreak during the women’s 25m pistol final. Facing Vietnam’s Thuy Trang Nguyen, the Indian star fought valiantly but missed crucial shots, settling for silver on February 9.
From the outset, the final was a three-way battle with Isha Singh stealing the show early via a flawless first series. Manu and Nguyen trailed but stayed close. The lead changed hands repeatedly, with Nguyen seizing a two-point advantage after a perfect sixth series.
Indians responded fiercely; by the eighth series, Isha topped the charts at 30 points. Her ninth-series collapse handed bronze to her, paving the way for Manu’s late surge—three hits in the final series against Nguyen’s two, forcing extra time.
Tied after the first shoot-off (2-2), Manu’s second-round blanks gifted gold to Nguyen. Isha’s bronze was her second medal here, a bright spot amid the tension. Rhythm Sangwan placed fourth, showing depth in India’s squad.
Junior action delivered joy: Naimya Kapoor, the youngest World Championship medalist, triumphed in shoot-off glory over Aisyifa (29-29 tie), hitting three to nil. Anjali Bhagwat’s 24 earned bronze; Parisha Gupta scored 14 for fifth.
Team golds in senior and junior categories boosted India’s medal haul to 60—37 gold, 13 silver, 10 bronze. Bhaker’s resilience promises more glory ahead, as India cements its shooting supremacy in Asia.