Esha Singh continued to establish herself as one of India’s brightest shooting stars by edging Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker to the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou on Monday. The 21-year-old held her nerve in a high-quality final to top the podium, while Manu battled her way to bronze as India celebrated a memorable double podium finish.
The result was another reminder of India’s enviable depth in women’s pistol shooting. Just weeks after rewriting the record books in Munich, Esha once again delivered when it mattered most, overcoming the pressure of expectations to claim another World Cup title. Manu, meanwhile, showed her trademark resilience, surviving a tense shoot-off to finish on the podium and continue building momentum ahead of the World Championships and the Asian Games.
India had already stamped its authority during qualification, with Manu leading the field on 586-20x and Esha finishing just one point behind on 585-18x to secure places in the eight-shooter final. Former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat also impressed with 582-16x, while Simranpreet Kaur Brar and Abhidnya Ashok Patil delivered solid performances while competing under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status.
Once the medals were up for grabs, however, it was Esha who stood tallest. She remained composed throughout the final, registering 40 hits to seal the gold medal. Manu, after winning a crucial shoot-off to stay alive in the contest, eventually finished with 28 hits to add another World Cup medal to her growing collection.
ESHA THRIVES UNDER EXPECTATION
Having already set both the senior and junior world records with 43 hits at the ISSF World Cup in Munich earlier this season, Esha admitted the challenge in Hangzhou was as much mental as technical. With success came greater expectations, but the Hyderabad shooter was pleased to overcome that burden.
“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 and grateful that I had the ability to endure it.”
Competing once again in Hangzhou also brought back happy memories for Esha, who won four medals at the 2023 Asian Games at the same venue.
“I really love competing here in Hangzhou. Recalling how the competition went during the Asian Games, where I won four medals, I was really excited to come back. Being familiar with the range, the lighting, and the atmosphere in the final hall definitely counted in my favour.”
MANU TAKES POSITIVES DESPITE MISSING GOLD
Although she fell short of the top step of the podium, Manu believed the bronze medal offered more than just another addition to her medal tally. The Paris Olympic double medallist said the competition provided valuable clarity ahead of a packed international season.
“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.”
Looking ahead, Manu said the experience of competing in a pressure-filled final would prove invaluable.
“While the medal surely boosts my confidence, the experience I gained from this competitive match will help even more as we look ahead to major assignments like the World Championships and Asian Games.”
The gold medal continued Esha’s impressive run this season after her record-breaking performance in Munich, while Manu added another podium finish as she builds towards the World Championships and the Asian Games.
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