India’s poor run at the ongoing ISSF World Cup Final continued on Wednesday as in-form pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat and Anish Bhanwala missed out on a place in the final round of their respective events in Putian, China.
While Bhaker and Sarnobat bowed out of the women’s 25m Pistol, Bhanwala found it tough to make a place in the top six of the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol.
Fine start
Bhaker, who’s enjoyed a phenomenal season, began her campaign on a bright note, shooting series of 97, 99 and 96 (292) in the precision round, keeping her in the hunt for a place in the final.
The 17-year-old Indian began the rapid round well. She shot a series of 98 but then saw herself slip with a series of 96 in her second. Though Bhaker recovered well to get a 97 in the third series, that saw her tied on the eighth spot with Germany's Doreen Vennekamp and Elena Galiabovitch of Australia. The German, however, made it to the final based on the higher number of inner 10s in the qualification.
Meanwhile, Sarnobat could barely get going in both the precision and the rapid rounds as a below-par show saw her restricted to the bottom of the pile. The 2018 Asian Games gold medallist managed a total of 283 in the precision round and 286 in the rapid round to wrap up her season.
Poor finish
Later in the day, Bhanwala saw his chance of making it to the final of the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol slip after a poor second stage.
A Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the event, Bhanwala started off brightly with a series of 97, 99 and 96 in the first stage. Though he continued his form in the second stage and shot an identical 97 in the first two series, a series of 92 in the third saw him drop out of the top six.
What’s next?
India’s quest for a medal at the ISSF World Cup Final will continue on Thursday with Bhaker (10m Air Pistol), Yashaswini Singh Deswal (10m Air Pistol) and Divyansh Singh Panwar (10m Air Rifle) lining up for their respective events.