In the third series, she had four 8s and three 9s for a total of 89. Saturday’s story took a different path. Manu scored 14 points in the first ranking match after finishing third in qualification with 584 points (290 in precision and 294 in rapid).
She was actually tied for first place on points with eventual gold medalist Doreen Vennekamp of Germany. Things became tense in the medal match when Manu began her first series of five shots with only two hits, leaving her at the bottom of the pile. In the second series, she only missed one.
Manu had yet to reach double digits after 15 shots, remaining at a pitiful 9. China’s Xiong Yaxuan, who was placed directly above her, had 10 points. In the next round of competition shots, the eight-time World Cup gold medalist proved her worth by earning all five points available.
She had not only surpassed Yaxuan, but she had also established a two-point gap between them. Manu had four points from her previous series, but Du Ziyue, the other Chinese shooter in the competition, was up to the task. Vennekamp, a fan favourite at the MP State Shooting Academy, won gold by missing only 10 of 40 shots.
Other Indians who made the rankings rounds on day four of competitions here were Esha Singh (25m sports pistol) and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (50m rifle 3P), but were unable to climb the podium.
