Olympian Manu Bhaker returned to winning ways as she topped the 10m Air Pistol Women’s final at the National Selection Trials T3 (Group A) held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old shooter delivered a composed performance in the final to secure first place ahead of Sainyam, while Esha Singh finished third in a competitive eight-shooter field. The National Selection Trials are a key step in determining India’s shooting squads for upcoming international competitions, making the event a crucial stage for the country’s top pistol shooters to test their form.
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Interestingly, Manu Bhaker entered the final in dramatic fashion, having qualified as the eighth and final shooter from the qualification round. However, once the final began, the Olympian quickly found her rhythm. Bhaker moved into the lead after the second series of the final and maintained control through the remaining rounds. Her consistency under pressure allowed her to build a comfortable cushion over the rest of the field.
She eventually finished with a winning score of 246.1, comfortably ahead of Sainyam, who ended the final with 241.9 points. The margin of 4.2 points underlined Bhaker’s dominance once she settled into her shooting rhythm. For Bhaker, the result was another important statement in domestic competition as she continues to remain one of India’s most consistent pistol shooters on the national circuit.
Sainyam Continues Strong Run
Finishing second was Sainyam, who has been enjoying an impressive run in domestic shooting events. The shooter, who had earlier won Trial 2 of the National Selection Trials, once again showcased her ability to compete at the highest level. Sainyam stayed in contention through most phases of the final but could not match Bhaker’s late consistency. Nevertheless, her 241.9 score secured a well-deserved silver medal and reinforced her growing reputation in Indian pistol shooting.
Her back-to-back strong performances in the trials also highlight the increasing depth in India’s women’s pistol squad.
Esha Singh Secures Third Place
Esha Singh, one of India’s most promising young pistol shooters, completed the podium by finishing third with a score of 220.6. Esha entered the final as the top qualifier, shooting 580 with 21 inner-tens, the highest score in the qualification round. However, the Hyderabad shooter could not convert that advantage into a victory in the final.
Despite the setback, her qualification performance once again underlined her ability to deliver high scores in the precision stage of competition. Esha has already established herself on the international stage, having won gold at the Asian Championships and bronze at the World Championships, and remains one of India’s key prospects for future global events.
Palak Gulia Finishes Fourth
Asian Games champion Palak Gulia narrowly missed the podium after finishing fourth with a score of 200.2. Palak, another emerging talent in Indian shooting, has shown steady progress in recent seasons and continues to remain in the mix among the country’s top pistol shooters. Her presence in the final alongside experienced competitors like Bhaker and Esha highlighted the intense competition within the Indian squad.
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The remaining shooters in the eight-woman final also produced strong performances during the trials. Anjali Choudhary finished fifth with 179.8 points, followed by Surbhi Rao, who secured sixth place with 158.2. Pranjali Prashant Dhumal, a Deaflympics medallist, finished seventh with 138.7, while Muskan completed the field in eighth place with a score of 117.0.
The competitive lineup demonstrated the growing depth in Indian women’s pistol shooting, with several young shooters pushing for national team places.
Qualification Round Highlights
Before the final, the qualification stage saw several high-quality performances. Esha Singh topped the qualification standings with 580-21x, followed closely by Surbhi Rao, who shot 578-12x. Muskan finished third in qualification with 577-15x, while Anjali Choudhary secured fourth place after shooting 575-19x.
Sainyam qualified fifth with 575-16x, followed by Palak Gulia with 574-14x. Manu Bhaker secured the final spot in the top eight with 574-11x, setting the stage for her eventual victory in the final.
Rifle Events Also Produce Strong Performances
The trials also featured strong performances in the 50m Rifle Prone events.
In the men’s category, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar finished first with a score of 628.3, ahead of Niraj Kumar (622.6) and Goldi Gurjar (622.2). Meanwhile, in the women’s 50m Rifle Prone event, Sift Kaur Samra delivered an outstanding performance to take the top spot with 628.3. She was followed by Aakriti Dahiya, who shot 627.0, and Manini Kaushik, who finished third with 626.6.
With the completion of National Selection Trials T3, India’s national shooting squad will now shift focus toward preparation for upcoming international competitions. A national coaching camp will be held in New Delhi from March 11 to March 21, bringing together the country’s top shooters as they prepare for the upcoming international season.
For Manu Bhaker, the victory at the trials is another reminder of her ability to deliver under pressure a quality that has made her one of India’s most prominent names in shooting. And with a strong group of young shooters pushing the standards higher, India’s women’s pistol shooting continues to build momentum ahead of the next cycle of global competitions.
