NEW DELHI: Indian shooter Manu Bhaker admitted she had “mixed feelings” after winning bronze in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, China. While pleased with his progress, the Olympic medalist said he believes he can do better.“Another bronze. I have mixed feelings about it. I’m happy that I improved my performance, but at the same time, I know I can do better,” Bhaker wrote to X.He added, “What makes me happy is seeing that hard work shows. There’s still a lot of room for improvement, and that’s what keeps me motivated. One step at a time.”Bhaker also thanked those who supported him, saying, “Thank you so much to my team, my family, and each and every one of you for your unwavering love and support, it means the world to me.”
India shines in women’s 25m pistol
India enjoyed a memorable outing in the event as: Esha Singh won gold, while Bhaker took bronze to complete the double podium finish. Esha dominated the final with 40 hits, while Bhaker survived a crucial shoot-off before finishing with 28 hits to take third place.The pair have already impressed in qualifying, with Bhaker topping the standings with 586-20x and Esha finishing second with 585-18x to comfortably qualify for the final. Rahi SarnobatSimranpreet Kaur Brar and Abhidnya Ashok Patil also give solid performances.The gold medal marks another major milestone for 21-year-old Esha Singh. Earlier this season, he set senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final of the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Meanwhile, Bhaker’s bronze further underscored his consistency after becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at one Olympic Games in Paris 2024.