Paris Olympics 2024: Manu Bhaker misses history by a whisker, finishes fourth in women's 25m air pistol

Published at :August 3, 2024 at 3:01 PM

Modified at :August 3, 2024 at 3:01 PM

Bhaker has already secured two bronze medals at the ongoing Olympics.

In a nail-biting finish at the Olympic women’s 25m air pistol event, India’s Manu Bhaker narrowly missed out on adding a third Olympic medal to her collection. The 22-year-old shooter, who was among the favourites, put up a strong fight, but ultimately finished fourth in a tightly contested final.

The competition, divided into two stages, tested the shooters’ precision and nerve. In the first stage, competitors fired three series of five shots each. A score above 10.2 was considered a valid shot, with rankings based on the number of these successful attempts.

Bhaker’s start was shaky, with only two valid shots in her first series, placing her sixth. However, she bounced back impressively, scoring four valid shots in each of the next two series. This strong performance catapulted her to second place.

Trending Indian Sports articles

The second stage featured eliminations after every five-shot series, with the lowest-scoring shooter being removed from the competition. Bhaker faced ups and downs in this crucial phase. A challenging first elimination round saw her drop to sixth place, but she fought back with a perfect five out of five in the next series, climbing to third.

The young Indian shooter maintained her form in the following two rounds, scoring four points each time. This consistency kept her in contention, tying for second place as the competition neared its end.

However, the eighth series proved decisive. Bhaker managed only two valid shots, opening the door for Hungary’s Veronika Major, who had earlier equaled the Olympic record in qualification. The two shooters found themselves tied for the bronze medal position, leading to a dramatic shoot-off.

In the end, it was Major who edged out Bhaker, securing the bronze medal for Hungary. South Korea claimed gold, adding to their impressive shooting tally, while France took silver.

Despite the heartbreak of missing out on a medal, Bhaker’s performance was nothing short of exceptional.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram