BHAKER LONE SPARK ON A DULL DAY FOR INDIAN SHOOTING

Manu salvages the day after 10m air rifle mixed & 10m men's air pistol shooters fail to qualify

- INDRANEEL DAS

SHOOTERS lose by fine margins. Technique and mental conditioning are the other weapons in the armoury that usually separate them from the rest. In a competition like the Olympics, there is a third invisible force, just like quantum, called luck. More so in shooting.

The bullet can spray by tenth of a millimetre off the centre but would be enough to slip out of race. For some reason, this luck has been eluding Indian shooters at the Olympics. The day started with despair when the mixed team failed to qualify for the final and continued when the men faltered in the 10m air pistol individual round.

Manu Bhaker saved the day.

The immaculate form she is in raises hope for India in the 10m air pistol final on Sunday. Bhaker confessed that she has started to enjoy shooting and it was reflected in her scores. She had the maximum 10s. One hand tucked in the pocket, she was firing with confidence.