Shymkent (Kazakhstan): India’s shooting contingent continued its medal-winning momentum at the Asian Shooting Championship in Kazakhstan, as Manu Bhaker secured a bronze medal in the 10m women’s air pistol event on Tuesday.
The two-time Olympic medallist showcased her skill and composure in the high-pressure final, shooting a total of 219.7 points to finish third in the eight-woman contest. China’s Qianke Ma took gold with a commanding score of 243.2, while Korea’s Yang Jiin claimed silver with 241.6.
Bhaker’s medal-winning performance was built on a strong qualification round earlier in the day. The Indian shooter placed third with a score of 583-18x, comfortably ahead of Korea’s Jiin, who finished fifth at 581-16x, and China’s Ma, who scraped through to the finals in seventh with 579-15x. Her consistency through the rounds reflected both experience and determination, ensuring India stayed on the podium in a closely fought field.
India’s overall performance in Shymkent has been encouraging since the opening day. The shooters began the competition with a haul of two gold and three silver medals, underlining the depth of talent across senior, junior, and youth categories. Kapil Bainsla emerged as one of the standout performers, winning gold in the junior men’s air pistol event. The senior and junior men’s teams also contributed silver medals to the tally, setting a positive tone for the campaign.
Among the team events, the trio of Anmol Jain, Saurabh Chaudhary, and Aditya Malra made an impact by securing silver in the men’s 10m air pistol. They combined for a score of 1735-52x, finishing just behind the People’s Republic of China’s team of Hu Kai, Changjie You, and Yifan Zhang, who captured gold with 1744-51x. The close margins highlighted the competitiveness of the field and India’s growing stature in the discipline.
In the youth category, 17-year-old Girish Gupta delivered a memorable performance, striking gold in the 10m air pistol men’s event with a score of 241.3 in the final. His victory was made sweeter by an all-Indian finish at the top, as 14-year-old Dev Pratap claimed silver with 238.6, showing that the next generation of Indian shooters is making rapid strides on the international stage.
With Manu Bhaker’s bronze adding to the tally, the Indian squad has already established a strong presence in the championship. The senior team, comprising 35 shooters, is competing across 15 events, while as many as 129 Indian juniors are also in action at the meet. The breadth of participation reflects the scale of India’s shooting program and the emphasis being placed on nurturing talent across age groups.
The opening days of competition in Shymkent suggest that India’s shooters are set to return with an impressive medal count. With several events still to unfold, the spotlight will remain on the likes of Bhaker and her teammates, who continue to push the country’s medal hopes higher on the continental stage.
