On a breezy Tuesday in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, the tricolor rose again in celebration of India’s shooting prowess. Manu Bhaker, the face of Indian pistol shooting, delivered two more medals to her name and to her country’s tally at the Asian Shooting Championship 2025. The 23-year-old from Haryana, already a two-time Olympic medalist, clinched bronze in the women’s 10 m air pistol individual event with a score of 219.7. 

She followed that up by anchoring the Indian women’s pistol team to another bronze medal, alongside Suruchi Singh and Palak Gulia. For Manu, this moment was not just another medal; it was a comeback on a continental stage where she last tasted individual glory in 2019 at Doha, when she won gold in the same event.

The Battle in the Finals

The women’s 10m air pistol final was stacked with talent, but Manu Bhaker proved yet again why she thrives under pressure. After steady qualification rounds, where she shot a superb 583-18x highlighted by a flawless perfect 100 in her last series, she entered the finals as one of the contenders. In the tense medal rounds, Manu displayed perfection but eventually had to settle for third place. China’s Ma Qianke stormed to gold with 243.2, while South Korea’s Yang Ji-in, the reigning Olympic champion in women’s 25m pistol, scored 241.6 to take silver. Manu’s bronze at 219.7 may not have been gold, but it reaffirmed her reputation for being India’s most reliable performer in high-pressure competitions.

Team Spirit of Indian Team 

If the individual medal reflected her grit, the team bronze medal revealed the depth of India’s women’s pistol shooting. Manu, Suruchi Singh, and Palak Gulia combined for a total score of 1730, just a single point behind South Korea, who bagged silver with 1731. The event was dominated by China, whose trio not only won gold but also set a new world record with 1740. For India, however, the bronze carried its own significance. Manu led the charge with her stellar 583-18x. Suruchi Singh contributed 574-20x, finishing 12th individually. Palak Gulia added 573-14x, placing 17th. Together, their teamwork ensured India stayed on the podium despite the razor-thin margins. 

For Manu Bhaker, medals are not just about numbers; they are about the journey, the sacrifices, and the quiet hours on the range when no one is watching. From a small village in Jhajjar, Haryana, she has risen to become the face of Indian shooting. Her achievements are not limited to just this competition: she has two Olympic medals, multiple World Cup titles, and now nine Asian Championship medals to her name. When Manu stood on the podium in Shymkent, one could imagine the countless young Indian shooters watching her on screens back home—drawing inspiration from her determination and calm under pressure.

India’s Medal Hunt at Shymkent

Manu’s double bronze lifted India’s senior medal tally to three at the championship. On Monday, Anmol Jain, Saurabh Chaudhary, and Aditya Malra clinched silver in the men’s 10m air pistol team event, setting the stage for Bhaker’s heroics the following day. The Indian senior contingent of 35 shooters is competing in 15 events at the championship, while a staggering 129 junior shooters are also part of the action. 

This massive participation underlines India’s growing depth in shooting sports, a discipline that has become one of the nation’s strongest Olympic medal hopes. Manu Bhaker’s journey in Shymkent is far from over. She is also set to compete in the women’s 25 m pistol event on August 25, where she will face reigning Olympic champion Yang Ji-in once again. The rivalry promises to be fierce, and Indian fans will be hoping their star can add another medal to her growing tally. 

A Medal Beyond Bronze

At first glance, a bronze medal may seem like a step away from ultimate glory. But for Manu Bhaker, this double bronze at the Asian Shooting Championship 2025 carries layers of meaning: a comeback on the continental stage, a reaffirmation of India’s depth in women’s pistol shooting, and, above all, a moment of pride for a nation that now sees shooting as one of its strongest Olympic arenas. In Shymkent, Manu once again proved that champions are not just measured by the color of their medals, but by their ability to keep inspiring competition after competition, shot after shot.