India’s 10m air pistol campaign has gone from disappointing to deeply frustrating at the Asian Games, with the men’s team failing to qualify for the final on Thursday, September 24, a day after the women’s team and Manu Bhaker also missed out on medals.
The men’s trio of Kamaljeet, Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve and Aakash Bharadwaj finished fourth in the team qualification with a combined score of 1727-53x. China topped the standings with 1743-70x, while Indonesia also shot 1743 points but finished second on inner-10s. Japan took the bronze with 1730-54x.
Asian Games 2026 Live: September 24 updates
The result meant India missed out on another medal opportunity in one of the country’s traditional strengths at the Asian Games. More damagingly, none of the three Indian shooters managed to make the individual final either, bringing the 10m air pistol campaign to an early end.
MANU BHAKAR’S WOMEN’S TEAM FAILS
The men’s disappointment followed an equally underwhelming outing for the women’s team on Wednesday.
India had arrived in Aichi-Nagoya with considerable expectations in the event, particularly after the women’s 10m air pistol team had won gold at the previous Asian Games. This time, Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Suruchi Inder Singh finished fourth after being tied with Vietnam on 1719 points. Vietnam took bronze by virtue of having more inner-10s, 46 to India’s 44.
Bhaker then remained India’s only representative in the individual final, but the Olympic medallist could not convert her qualification into a podium finish. She qualified third with 579-20x before finishing fifth in the final with 181.1. Esha finished 15th in qualification, while Suruchi was 26th.
It marked a significant reversal from Hangzhou 2022, when Palak Gulia won the individual gold and Esha Singh took silver, while India also won the team gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event.
There has been some consolation for India in the shooting range, with both the men’s and women’s skeet teams winning bronze medals. The focus now shifts to other shooting events, with India’s medal hopes still alive despite the unexpected blank in the 10m air pistol competitions.
Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka also kept India’s hopes alive in the mixed team skeet event after finishing fourth in qualification with 138 points.
– Ends
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