Manu Bhaker's Asian Games Journey Ends Without Medals Amid Controversy

Manu Bhaker's Medal-less Journey

In a surprising turn of events at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, India's double Olympic medalist shooter Manu Bhaker concluded her campaign without securing any medals. Competing in both the women's 25 m pistol and 10 m air pistol events, Manu, who was anticipated to be a strong contender following her Olympic achievements, faced disappointment. The women's 25 m pistol team, which included Esha Singh, Rahi Sarnobat, and Manu, finished fifth with a score of 1727-56x. The gold medal was claimed by China with a score of 1743-68x, while South Korea and Chinese Taipei took home the silver and bronze, respectively.

Concerns Raised by Manu's Father

Ram Kishan Bhaker, Manu's father, expressed his concerns regarding the organization of the shooting events, particularly highlighting a critical shot by Rahi that could have altered the team's fate. He stated, "One shot from Rahi could have changed everything for us, but it was not counted, resulting in a significant drop in our score." He also criticized the conditions at the shooting range, mentioning unpleasant odors and the lengthy travel times from Nagoya City. Ram Kishan emphasized that Japan needs to enhance its event organization if it wishes to host such significant competitions.

Performance Overview and Recent Achievements

Manu's performance in the individual events was below expectations, finishing 11th in the women's 25 m pistol qualification with a score of 579-18x, while Rahi placed 30th with 568-16x. In the 10 m air pistol event, Manu scored 181.1 points, landing her in fifth place during qualifications. Esha Singh and Suruchi Singh also faced challenges, finishing 16th and 26th, respectively. Despite these setbacks, Manu had shown promising form leading up to the Games, having won a bronze medal at the ISSF World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou and a silver in Munich.