Paris Olympics 2024: Manu Bhaker qualifies for women's 25m pistol final, eyes record third medal

Manu Bhaker has already won two bronze medals.

At the Paris Olympics 2024, Indian shooter Manu Bhaker has secured a spot in her third final, this time in the 25m Pistol event. Bhaker and teammate Esha Singh, both part of India’s successful shooting team, competed in this event following their gold medal wins at last year’s Asian Games and World Championships.

The competition consisted of two stages: precision and rapid-fire. In the precision round, Esha Singh, 19, had a shaky start, scoring 95 in her first series. She improved later, even scoring a perfect 100 in one series, but finished the precision stage in 10th place with 291 points.

It is Manu Bhaker AGAIN‼️🇮🇳 India's Manu Bhaker is in the final of the 25m Pistol Women's Event ✨🏅She finished 2️⃣nd in the qualification, while Esha Singh ended in the 1️⃣6️⃣th position. #Paris2024 #Paris #OlympicGames #Olympic2024 #OlympicGamesParis2024 pic.twitter.com/bwH6wu0ofM

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) August 2, 2024

Bhaker, 22, competing in the second relay, showed her experience. After a slow start with three 9s in her first five shots, she found her rhythm, firing eight consecutive 10s. Bhaker’s scores improved consistently (97, 98, 99), ending the precision round in third place with 294 out of 300 points.

In the rapid-fire series, Esha Singh started strong with seven 10s in her first eight shots. However, she couldn’t maintain this performance, finishing with a score of 290. This placed her eighth among first relay shooters, effectively ending her chances for the final.

Bhaker excelled in the rapid-fire stage. She began with a perfect 100 and followed up with two 98s. This impressive performance secured her second place in the overall standings with a total score of 588, earning her a spot in the final.

This marks Bhaker’s third final appearance in these Olympics, following her performances in other pistol events. Her consistency across multiple events highlights her versatility and skill as a shooter.

Also Read: Manu Bhaker becomes first athlete in Independent India to win multiple medals at a single Olympics

Bhaker’s success puts her in a position to potentially make history by winning multiple medals in a single Olympic edition, a feat no Indian shooter has achieved before.

As Bhaker prepares for the 25m Pistol final, she carries the hopes of Indian sports fans. The final will be another opportunity for Bhaker to add to India’s medal count, building on the country’s improving performance in Olympic shooting events over recent years.

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