At Aichi‑Nagoya, Manu Bhaker entered as a medal juggernaut after Paris bronze, but a 579‑point qualification left her hovering at fifth in the 10m air pistol—India’s only gold came from a single victory among 12 medals.
Her 181.1 in the medal round was a drop from the 579 she had clocked, and the team slipped to fourth, missing the podium.
Ram Kishan Bhaker, her father, said, "Her standard was 585‑595; today fell short."
Esha Singh’s silver in the 25m pistol final, after exhausting shoot‑offs, gave India a bright spot, while Rahi Sarnobat’s team finish was marred by a technical glitch that left one shot unregistered.
With only one gold, India’s haul of 12 medals starkly contrasts with Hangzhou's 22 and seven golds, underscoring a performance gap.
Five trap events still loom; next the shooters face the challenge of closing the gap.