Hangzhou, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India celebrated a double podium finish in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, China, as Esha Singh clinched the gold medal while Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker secured bronze.
Esha delivered a composed performance in the eight-shooter final, registering 40 hits to claim the top spot on the podium. Manu fought through a closely contested final, surviving a crucial shoot-off before finishing with 28 hits to bag the bronze medal, adding to India’s growing medal tally at the tournament.
The two Indian shooters had impressed in the qualification round, with Manu topping the standings after scoring 586-20x, while Esha qualified second with 585-18x to comfortably book their places in the final.
Former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed qualification for the medal round after finishing with 582-16x. Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576-20x) and Abhidnya Ashok Patil (573-16x) competed under the Ranking Points Only (RPO) category.
Reflecting on her victory, Esha said the expectations following her record-breaking performance at the ISSF World Cup in Munich earlier this year had added to the pressure.
“This match was very pressure-riding for me because of the previous medal I had. The better you get in your event, the more you feel that weight of prestige you have to conquer. I’m happy that I was able to get past it today,” she said.
Esha also said she enjoyed competing in Hangzhou, recalling her successful outing at the Asian Games, where she won four medals. She added that familiarity with the shooting range and competition environment worked to her advantage.
The 21-year-old Hyderabad shooter has been in outstanding form this season. Earlier this year in Munich, she created history by setting both the senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final. A Paris 2024 Olympian and Arjuna Award recipient, Esha has established herself among the world’s leading pistol shooters.
Manu described the bronze medal as an important step in her preparations for upcoming major international competitions.
“This medal is very important because it acts as a stepping stone. It gives me clarity on what is working and the direction I want to head in. While the medal boosts my confidence, the experience from this competitive match will help even more as we prepare for the World Championships and the Asian Games,” she said.
The medal further underlined Manu’s consistency on the international stage following her historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single edition of the Games.
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