Manu Bhaker was virtually a shot away from making the women’s 10m air pistol event at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Saturday – two or three points in her overall score would have likely seen her finish in the top eight. But a double malfunction in her gun meant she fell short in the first event of her Olympic debut.
The Indian finished with 575 points and was placed 12th, just four places away from the eight-shooter final. France’s Celine Goberville bagged the last qualifying spot with 577 points (even the 7th place shooter had a total of 577). Anything could have happened in the final series.
But a couple of 9s and 8 in that final series ended that hope. In fact, with two 10s needed from her last two attempt, she got one on the 59th shot and missed the 60th. The margins cannot closer than that.
A qualification exit is understandable given she’s just 19 and playing at the Olympic level for the first time. But to come this close after rejigging your weapon mid-match…