New Delhi: At the beginning of the 10m air pistol final at the World Cup in Lima, the cameras focused on Manu Bhaker, undoubtedly the most prominent figure in the competition. Her expression revealed little, save for a practiced smile honed over years in the limelight.

In stark contrast, her fellow competitor Suruchi Phogat displayed a more unfiltered and spontaneous demeanor. Their shooting styles mirrored their personalities.

Bhaker demonstrated confident accuracy, while Phogat exhibited the boldness characteristic of youth. Separated by five lanes, this was a contest within a contest, with the young contender eager to challenge the seasoned two-time Olympic medallist. After twenty-four shots, Phogat reaffirmed that her rapid ascent in the sport was no mere coincidence.

The 18-year-old from Jhajjar district in Haryana followed her gold medal victory in Buenos Aires with another impressive performance, successfully fending off strong competition from Bhaker and others. “It doesn’t matter who I am shooting against. For me, the only competition is with myself,” she later remarked.

Phogat achieved a commendable score of 243.6, despite a couple of less-than-ideal 9.7s, while Bhaker scored 242.3, and China’s promising 20-year-old Yao Qianxun finished with 219.5. Another Chinese competitor, 19-year-old Yufei Meng, initially led the field after the first ten shots, but two mediocre scores in the third series caused her to drop in ranking.

This opening allowed Phogat to capitalize, delivering a composed 10.4 and 10.6 to seize the lead. After twelve shots, Bhaker, positioned fourth, elevated her performance in the subsequent two-shot series, scoring 10.7 and 10.3 to move into second place. Both Indian shooters maintained their positions until the final shot. The high-caliber competition between the established star of Indian shooting and the emerging challenger was truly a spectacle to behold.

Demonstrating remarkable precision, Phogat became unstoppable once she gained the lead, consistently widening the margin with each shot. Bhaker made a valiant effort to catch up, yet Phogat continued to hit the 10s with regularity. Out of her final ten shots, only two fell below the score of 10. In contrast, Bhaker performed admirably as well, achieving two perfect 10.9s in her last ten shots.

The outcome accurately reflects Phogat's rising prominence in Indian shooting. Following her impressive haul of three gold medals across senior, junior, and youth categories at the national championships held in December and January, Phogat secured another gold at the National Games in February, triumphing over Asian Games champion Palak Gulia and the experienced Rahi Sarnobat.

For Bhaker, Phogat's ascent serves as a gentle reminder of her own teenage years when she succeeded the seasoned Heena Sidhu and clinched nine gold medals at the national championships in 2017.

After a disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Bhaker redeemed herself in Paris last year, ending India's 12-year wait for an Olympic medal in shooting and becoming the first athlete from independent India to win multiple individual medals in a single edition of the Games.

Despite her remarkable achievements, Bhaker remains grounded and continues to train with her long-time coach Jaspal Rana. She is aware that she now has a target on her back, especially in domestic competitions. With talents like Palak, Esha Singh, Rhythm Sangwan, and Phogat, India boasts a vibrant pool of female competitors in both 10m and 25m pistol events, all of whom would see outperforming a double Olympic medallist as a significant testament to their skills. This competitive environment is likely to enhance the overall standard of the sport, reminiscent of the brief surge in Indian athletics following Neeraj Chopra's success in javelin.

Bhaker acknowledges the challenge ahead. “The younger competitors are quite impressive. Suruchi performed exceptionally well today and also did well in Buenos Aires. I hope to maintain my level to keep pace with them,” she stated to ISSF after her final.

Read Also: Lima World Cup Glory: Saurabh, Suruchi Win 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Event