Esha Singh's Silver Medal Celebrated as a 'Double Gold' by Her Father

Esha Singh's recent silver medal win at the Asian Games has been celebrated by her father, who referred to it as a 'double gold' due to the intense competition she faced. Esha's performance in the women's 25m pistol final was marked by a series of dramatic shoot-offs against China's Xiao Jiaruixian. Despite finishing with the same score, Esha secured her silver after a tense shoot-off. Her father expressed immense pride in her achievement, highlighting the challenges she overcame during the match. This victory adds to India's medal tally at the Games, showcasing the nation's prowess in shooting sports.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 28, 2026, 14:46 IST

Esha's Silver a 'Double Gold' Says Father

After Esha Singh secured a silver medal at the ongoing Asian Games, her father, Sachin Singh, praised her achievement, referring to it as a 'double gold medal' due to the intense competition she faced. Esha clinched the silver in the women's 25m pistol final on Monday, battling through a tense series of shoot-offs against China's Xiao Jiaruixian. Both shooters ended with 38 points, but Xiao took the gold after the second shoot-off, while North Korea's Kim Hyon Suk earned the bronze with 34 points.

'A Fantastic Effort'

In a post-match interview, Esha's father expressed his pride, stating, 'For Esha, this isn't merely a silver; it feels like a double gold. Competing in five shoot-offs and firing 25 additional shots in one match is an incredible feat for a 21-year-old. Her performance was outstanding.' He also extended gratitude to the Sports Authority of India, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for their unwavering support.

Father on Technical Glitches

Discussing some pivotal moments during the match, Sachin noted, 'There were two incorrect commands issued. The game was halted after the fourth shot, and when they resumed, the light was not turned on after reloading. Such interruptions can disrupt a shooter's focus, making it challenging to regain composure and perform well in subsequent shots. This is an issue that needs addressing, and I trust our international governing body will take action.'

A Nail-Biting Final

Esha started the final round strongly, hitting all five targets in her opening series, which gave her an early advantage. She maintained her lead with four hits in the second series after 10 shots.

However, after a three-hit series, she fell to second place as Xiao took the lead with 13 points. Esha responded with four hits in the next series, leveling the score at 16 points after 20 shots.

After 25 shots, Esha and Xiao were tied at 20 points, with Kim also in contention. Esha briefly dropped to third but then delivered a crucial five-hit series to secure her medal.

With Xiao and Kim tied at 32 points and Esha at 31 after 40 shots, Esha needed a strong finish. She and Kim entered a shoot-off to determine the silver and bronze medals. Both shooters scored three hits in the first two shoot-off series, but Esha triumphed in the next round with three hits against Kim's two, ensuring at least a silver medal.

In the gold-medal shoot-off against Xiao, both competitors finished with 38 points after the regular final and the first shoot-off, necessitating another five-shot contest. Xiao narrowly won, hitting three targets to Esha's two, leaving the Indian shooter with the silver medal.

This achievement marks India's 39th medal at the Asian Games, contributing to a total of four golds, 17 silvers, and 18 bronzes so far.