Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Manu Bhaker, Yashaswini Deswal fail to qualify for final of women’s 10m air pistol

Manu Bhaker failed to qualify for the final of the Women’s 10m air pistol at the Tokyo Olympics. She finished 12th with a score of 575-14x while her compatriot Yashaswini Deswal came 13th with a score of 574-11x.

India's Manu Bhaker missed out on a place in the final of the Women’s 10m air pistol after a reported technical glitch. She is also in contention in the 25m pistol event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Saurabh Chaudhary.

Manu Bhaker had a hard time dealing with a gun breakdown and her brave effort fell short of fetching her a berth in women’s air pistol final in the Olympics on Sunday.

As it happened

The 19-year-old Manu, who lost precious time when her pistol was being repaired, needed a 10 on the last shot to stake a claim in the final, and ended up with an eight. She had 575 for the 12th position, one spot ahead of compatriot Yashaswini Singh Deswal who had 574.

Both the shooters have their chance in mixed air pistol along with Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma on Tuesday.

Manu (Series 6): 575-14x [10, 10, 10, 9, 10, 10, 9, 9, 10, 8] Yashaswini (Series 6): 574-11x [10, 10, 9, 10, 10, 9, 10, 9, 8, 10]

Manu will also be competing in the 25-metre sports pistol event along with Rahi Sarnobat. Thus, there is a lot to look up to for the young Manu, even though she was understandably upset and crying at her misfortune.

Gold for Batsarashkina

The silver medallist of the Rio Games, Vitalina Batsarashkina of the Russian Olympic Committee overcame a 0.9 point deficit on the last two shots to clinch the gold ahead of Antoaneta Kostadinova of Bulgaria. Jiang Ranxin of China shot a world record 587 in qualification but ended up with the bronze.

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Anna Korakaki who had won bronze in the event in the last Olympics, apart from gold in sports pistol, finished sixth, after having shot the second-best score of 585 in qualification.

In men’s air rifle, the miserable run of Indian shooters continued as Asian Games silver medallist Deepak Kumar placed 26th with 624.7 while the 18-year-old world No.1 Divyansh Singh Panwar was 32nd with 622.8.

William Shaner wins air-rifle gold

Former world championship junior bronze medallist, the 20-year-old William Shaner of the U.S. who had won the World Cup gold in Delhi this March, pipped the 16-year-old Sheng Lihao and Yang Haoran of China for the gold in men’s air rifle.

While everyone tries to make sense of what happened with Bhaker, pistol shooter Heena Sidhu gave a sense of how difficult her task became in the event.

Asian champion and world record holder Angad Vir Singh Bajwa shot 73 following rounds of 24,25 and 24, to stay in the race for a final berth after three rounds in men’s skeet. However, Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan spoilt his chances with a third round of 22, after having shot 25 and 24 in the first two.

Two-time Olympic champion Vincent Hancock of the U.S. led with a perfect 75 along with Eric Delaunay of France. There were three on 74 and eight on 73 in a field of 30 shooters. Two more rounds on the morrow will be followed by the final featuring the top six.

The results (men’s air rifle) 1. William Shaner (U.S.) 251.8 (OR) 630.8; 2. Sheng Lihao (Chn) 250.9 (629.2); 3. Yang Haoran (Chn) 229.4 (632.7); 28. Deepak Kumar 624.7; 32. Divyansh Singh Panwar 622.8. Women’s air pistol 1. Vitalina Batsarashkina (ROC) 240.3 (OR) 582; 2. Antoaneta Kostadinova (Bul) 239.4 (578); 3. Jiang Ranxin (Chn) 281.0 (587 WR); 12. Manu Bhaker 576; 13. Yashaswini Singh Deswal 574.