New Delhi: India’s double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker won the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol competition at the Asian Shooting Championship in Kazakhstan on Tuesday. On the other hand, Rashmika Sahgal earned the gold as she was crowned champion in the junior women’s air pistol of the event adding to India’s ongoing run in the event.
Bhaker shot 219.7 in the eight woman finals to finish in the third position with Qianke Ma from China claiming the gold medal with 243.2 and Korea’s Jiin Yang earning the silver with 241.6. After Bhaker earned the coveted bronze for the country, Rashmika lit up India’s campaign earning third individual yellow metal of the competition.
The young shooter showcased tremendous career consistency to score 241.9 and finish with a big 4.3 points ahead of silver-winning shooter Han Seunghyun of Korea. Rashmika (qualification score 582) earned a double delight as after winning the gold in the individual event, she combined with Vanshika Chaudhary (573) and Mohini Singh (565) to win the team gold in the event.
Bhaker also wins team bronze
Bhaker (582) also claimed a team bronze in women’s air pistol along with reigning Asia Games champion Palak (573) and Suruchi Singh (574). Both Palak and Suruchi could not win the individual final three and two points respectively.
Meanwhile, in the individual final, Bhaker was placed at fifth after the first five-shot series and fourth after the second but a 10.5 on the 11th singles shot took her up to the second place behind winner Qianke of China. In the last two days on Monday and Tuesday, India have won an individual bronze and a team silver and team bronze medal in the 10m air pistol events across both the senior men and women categories.
They have also swept the individual junior golds on offer in the event with Kapil Bainsla showing the way on Monday, followed up by Rashmika’s on Tuesday. Overall, India has so far won five gold, two silver and four bronze medals.
(With PTI inputs)