ISSF World Cup: Deswal clinches gold, Bhaker settles for silver

Both shooters were at their best during the competition.

The Women’s 10m Air Pistol proved to be a fruitful event for India at the ISSF World Cup in Delhi, as Yashaswini Singh Deswal clinched the gold with a total of 238.8 points. Manu Bhaker won the silver medal, while Shri Nivetha Paramanantham missed out on a chance to get on the podium after she finished fourth behind experienced shooter Victoria Chaika from Belarus.

All three Indian shooters started strongly in the final of the ISSF World Cup, with Bhaker leading the pack after the first round of five shots with 51.3 points, while Deswal and Nivetha were in third and fourth place respectively. The second round of five shots proved to be a turning point for Bhaker and Deswal, as the latter moved 0.8 points ahead to move into first place, a position from which she never dropped down.

Shri Nivetha fought hard to maintain herself in the contest, but failed to overcome Victoria Chaika and crashed out with a total of 193.5 points. Chaika then faced off against Bhaker but failed to get past her, as the Indian shooter survived the round despite shooting a 9.7.

Meanwhile, Dewsal had built a lead of 3.3 points and shot 9.7, 9.3 to finish with the gold medal in the ISSF World Cup. Manu Bhaker finished with 236.7 points, as two Indians made it to the podium.

Earlier, it was heartbreak for Anjum Moudgil in the 10m Air Rifle Women’s final, as the Indian shooter finished in fifth position. America's Mary Carolynn Tucker won the gold medal with a total of 251.5 points, while her countrywoman Alison Marie Weisz (250.4 points) settled for silver. Eszter Denes of Hungary rounded out the medals with a third-place finish. She scored a total of 230.2 points.

Anjum had a rough start in the final, placing sixth after the first round of five shots with a score of 50.6. She then recovered well after the second round of shots, overtaking Polish shooter Aneta Stankiewicz to move to the fifth position. After the first round of elimination, she maintained the fifth position with a total of 124.5 points, before two shots of 10.8 each found her in fourth place above eventual silver medalist Weisz.

The 17th shot moved Anjum ahead of Weisz as the Indian registered an impressive 10.6, while the young American shot 10.2. In the end, Weisz survived as she shot 10.6, while Anjum only managed to put 10.3 on the board.

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