Manu Bhaker Clinches Silver in 25m Pistol at Asian Shooting Championships 2026

India’s ace shooter Manu Bhaker staged a strong comeback by winning the silver medal in the 25m pistol event at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026 in New Delhi. This came just five days after she finished seventh in the 10m air pistol final. Showing resilience and mental strength, Manu fought through a tense final and a double shoot-off to secure second place, marking her first-ever individual silver in the 25m pistol event.

Manu Bhaker’s Silver Medal Performance

• In the 25m pistol final, Manu Bhaker delivered a composed performance despite a slow start.
• She qualified comfortably with a score of 584, underlining her strong form.
• The final turned intense as Manu finished with 35 points, tied with Vietnam’s Thuy Trang Nguyen.
• The contest went into a shoot-off twice, where Manu narrowly missed out on gold after dropping three targets in the second shoot-off, settling for silver in a closely fought battle.

Slow Start, Strong Finish in the Final

• The final initially saw Esha Singh and Nguyen leading the field, while Manu struggled to find rhythm.
• However, the turning point came in the ninth elimination series, when Esha missed five shots.
• This opened the door for Manu Bhaker, who climbed into the silver medal position with calm and consistency.
• Her ability to stay focused under pressure highlighted a noticeable improvement in her finals temperament, an area she has worked on in recent years.

Mental Strength After 10m Air Pistol Setback

• Reflecting on her earlier seventh-place finish in the 10m air pistol, Manu said she prefers focusing on the “bigger picture” rather than dwelling on past results.
• She explained that she has learned to move on quickly from disappointments.
• According to her, winning or losing one event does not define her performance in another discipline. This mindset helped her stay mentally fresh and competitive in the demanding 25m pistol final.

First Individual Silver in 25m Pistol

• While Manu Bhaker has won multiple medals in the 10m air pistol, the 25m pistol has historically been more challenging for her.
• This silver medal is her first individual silver in the event.
• Earlier, she had secured bronze medals at the ISSF World Cups in 2021 and 2023.
• The 2026 Asian Shooting Championships silver is therefore seen as a sign of progress and growing consistency in finals at the continental level.

Balancing 10m and 25m Events

• Manu Bhaker has been competing in both 10m air pistol and 25m pistol since 2018.
• She believes that results in one discipline do not affect the other.
• According to her, balance comes from preparation and experience.
• This clarity allows her to approach each event independently, without emotional baggage, which is crucial at high-pressure championships like the Asian Shooting Championships.

Road Ahead: Asian Games and Olympic Qualification

• The year 2026 is crucial for Indian shooters, with the Asian Games approaching and qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics beginning from July 31.
• Manu stated that planning peak performance with her coach will be key. Managing competitions, workload, and form will define her path ahead.
• For now, the Asian Games remain a major target in her competitive calendar.

Question

Q. Manu Bhaker won a silver medal in which event at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026?

A. 10m Air Rifle
B. 10m Air Pistol
C. 25m Pistol
D. 50m Rifle