Rahi Sarnobat Defeats Manu Bhaker to Win Women’s 25m Pistol Title at National Selection Trials

Former Asian Games gold medallist Rahi Sarnobat delivered one of her most impressive performances in recent years to claim the women’s 25m pistol title at the National Selection Trials 4 in Dehradun on Monday.

Competing in a field packed with some of India’s biggest shooting stars, Rahi showcased her experience and composure to outshoot double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker in the final. The victory comes at a crucial stage of the season as Indian shooters battle for places in the squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Held at the Trishul Shooting Range in Dehradun, the trials are expected to play a major role in determining India’s rifle and pistol contingents for upcoming international assignments, making every result particularly significant.

The women’s 25m pistol final featured several of India’s leading shooters, but it was Rahi who looked in complete control from the opening stages. The experienced Maharashtra shooter maintained consistency throughout the elimination rounds and gradually built a comfortable lead over the rest of the field. She eventually finished with 37 hits, comfortably securing first place and reaffirming her credentials as one of India’s most accomplished pistol shooters.

Manu Bhaker, who entered the competition among the favourites, settled for the silver medal with 35 hits. Karnataka’s Divya TS completed the podium after registering 29 hits in the final. The gap between Rahi and Manu may have been only two hits, but throughout the contest Rahi appeared composed and rarely looked under pressure.

For a shooter who has already won Asian Games gold and represented India at multiple Olympic Games, the performance served as a reminder that experience remains a powerful asset in high-pressure competitions.

While Manu Bhaker narrowly missed out on the title, her performance once again underlined her consistency at the national level. The double Olympic medallist was among the strongest performers during qualification, finishing second with a score of 584 and 16 inner tens. Manu has remained one of India’s most reliable shooters across multiple pistol disciplines over the past few years, and another podium finish further strengthens her case ahead of upcoming international competitions.

However, she was unable to match Rahi’s precision in the final, where the latter's experience proved decisive.

Despite the defeat, Manu remains one of the leading contenders for selection in India's Asian Games squad.

Karnataka shooter Divya TS continued her rise within Indian shooting by securing the bronze medal. Divya finished the final with 29 hits, comfortably ahead of the chasing pack and further enhancing her growing reputation on the domestic circuit. Her performance also had implications for the national rankings, although she dropped one position following the latest updates after being overtaken by Rahi.

Nevertheless, the podium finish highlights the increasing depth in Indian women’s pistol shooting, where several athletes are now capable of challenging for top honours.

One of the biggest talking points of the competition was the contrasting performances of Chinki Yadav. The Madhya Pradesh shooter was exceptional during qualification, topping the standings with a score of 586 and 22 inner tens. However, the transition from qualification to finals proved challenging.

Chinki struggled to find rhythm during the medal round and was the first shooter eliminated, finishing eighth with just nine hits.

Her performance once again highlighted the unpredictable nature of shooting finals, where qualification scores often become irrelevant once the competition resets.

The National Selection Trials are not merely domestic competitions; they are effectively auditions for some of the biggest international events of the season. India is expected to field 15 men and 15 women shooters across the 28 shooting events at the 2026 Asian Games, making selection one of the most competitive processes in Indian sport. With the shotgun squad already announced, attention is firmly focused on the rifle and pistol disciplines.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/asian-games-2026-spots-up-for-grabs-as-nrai-selection-trials-4-begin-in-dehradun

Every result at the trials carries weight, particularly in events such as the women’s 25m pistol where multiple world-class athletes are competing for limited places.

The latest national rankings reflected the impact of Monday’s performances. Despite not participating in the trials, world record holder and Munich World Cup gold medallist Esha Singh retained her position as India’s top-ranked women’s 25m pistol shooter. Manu Bhaker remained second in the rankings, while Rahi’s victory helped her climb to third, swapping positions with Divya TS, who dropped to fourth.

Another notable mover was Chinki Yadav, whose outstanding qualification score helped her rise from ninth to sixth in the national standings despite her disappointing final. 

With the selection trials entering their final stages, the battle for places in India’s Asian Games squad remains intense. For Rahi Sarnobat, Monday’s victory could not have come at a better time. Defeating an athlete of Manu Bhaker’s stature sends a powerful statement to selectors and rivals alike.

More importantly, it demonstrates that the former Asian Games champion remains capable of delivering under pressure when the stakes are highest.

As India prepares to finalise its rifle and pistol squads, Rahi’s performance has ensured that her name remains firmly in the conversation for another major international campaign.