Not every round goes according to script, even for a record holder. Manu Bhaker’s campaign in the women’s 25m pistol event opened on a shaky note at the Asian Games 2026, as inconsistency crept into her scoring during the precision stage in Aichi-Nagoya.
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How Manu Bhaker’s Round Unfolded?
Competing from Lane 18, Bhaker started strong, opening with an 8 followed by a 10 and an inner-10 to steady her rhythm. After the first two series, she sat fifth among the opening group of shooters with a score of 96. However, her form dipped noticeably through the middle stretch, dropping to 47 and 48 in the third and fourth series. She recovered somewhat in the closing two series, posting a combined 96 to finish the precision stage with an overall score of 287, placing her 16th in the individual standings.
How This Compares to Her Record-Setting Run?
Bhaker still holds the qualification record in this event, having shot an impressive 593 back at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. This time around, she’d already shed 13 points by the halfway mark, compared to dropping just seven points across her entire record-setting qualification round in 2018 — a clear sign of how much tougher this outing has been so far.

Asian Games 2026: Full Standings Snapshot
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manu Bhaker’s score | 287 (16th place) |
| Rahi Sarnobat’s score | 287 (15th place) |
| Esha Singh’s score | 290 (6th place, best Indian finish) |
| Precision stage leader | Haniyeh Rostamiyan (Iran) — 291 |
| India’s team standing | 3rd (815-20x) |
| Team standings leader | South Korea (823-34x) |
What’s Next?
With the precision stage complete, all eyes now turn to the rapid-fire stage on September 28, which will ultimately decide the final individual standings. Given how tightly bunched the scores are near the top, especially with Iran and Uzbekistan setting the pace, the rapid-fire round could significantly reshuffle the leaderboard, leaving plenty of room for the Indian contingent to climb back up.
For more background on the sport itself, check the 25 meter pistol page on Wikipedia.
For more Asian Games 2026 coverage and India’s medal updates, check out ongoing sports news at TechnoSports.
FAQs
Q1: What score did Manu Bhaker get in the 25m pistol precision round?
She scored 287, placing 16th in the individual women’s precision stage.
Q2: When is the rapid-fire stage that will decide final standings?
The rapid-fire round is scheduled for September 28, 2026.
