Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker Shine at ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou
Indian Shooters Excel in Women's 25m Pistol Event
File image of Esha Singh(left) and Manu Bhaker(right)(Photo: @Sanjays11831768/X)
Hangzhou, July 27: Indian shooters Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker achieved a remarkable double podium finish in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun held in Hangzhou, China. Esha secured the gold medal while Manu took home the bronze, contributing to India's impressive medal tally at the event.
Esha showcased a strong and steady performance in the final, hitting 40 targets to claim the top spot. Meanwhile, Manu, a double Olympic medallist for Paris 2024, faced tough competition but managed to secure the bronze with 28 hits after a critical shoot-off.
Both athletes had set the stage with stellar qualification rounds, where Manu led with a score of 586-20x, closely followed by Esha at 585-18x, allowing them to advance to the medal round comfortably. Former Asian Games gold medallist Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed the final with a score of 582-16x, while Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576-20x) and Abhidnya Ashok Patil (573-16x) participated under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status.
After her victory, Esha reflected on the pressure she felt following her record-setting performance at the ISSF World Cup in Munich earlier this year.
“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. 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,” Esha stated.
This victory marks another significant achievement for the 21-year-old from Hyderabad, who made headlines earlier this year by setting both senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final at Munich. As a Paris 2024 Olympian and Arjuna Awardee, Esha is rapidly establishing herself among the elite in pistol shooting.
Manu expressed that her bronze medal is a crucial milestone as she prepares 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 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,” Manu remarked.
The gold medal further solidifies Esha's impressive career trajectory. Earlier this season at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, she made history by breaking both senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final. As a Paris 2024 Olympian and Arjuna Award recipient, Esha continues to rise among the world's top shooters.
For Manu, the bronze medal underscores her remarkable consistency on the global stage, building on her historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Games.