ISSF World Cup: Esha Singh Wins Gold, Manu Bhaker Takes Bronze in Women's 25m Pistol as India Secures Double Podium

India's pistol shooters continued their outstanding run at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, China, with Esha Singh winning the gold medal and Manu Bhaker securing bronze in the women's 25m pistol event on Monday. 

The double podium finish further underlined India's growing dominance in international shooting and added two more medals to an impressive campaign in Hangzhou.

Esha produced a composed and commanding performance in the eight-shooter final, registering 40 hits to clinch the gold medal, while Paris 2024 double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker battled through a fiercely competitive final to finish with 28 hits, earning the bronze after surviving a crucial shoot-off earlier in the contest.

The result was another significant milestone for Indian shooting, with two of the country's biggest stars delivering under pressure on one of the sport's biggest stages.

India's dominance was evident right from the qualification round. Manu Bhaker topped the standings with an exceptional score of 586-20x, showcasing remarkable consistency across both precision and rapid-fire stages. Close behind was Esha Singh, who finished second with 585-18x, ensuring both Indians comfortably progressed to the medal round as the top two qualifiers.

The strong showing highlighted the depth of India's women's pistol squad. Former Asian Games gold medallist Rahi Sarnobat also delivered an impressive performance, scoring 582-16x, narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Meanwhile, Simranpreet Kaur Brar and Abhidnya Ashok Patil, competing under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status, recorded scores of 576-20x and 573-16x, respectively, adding further encouragement for the Indian camp.

With the top two qualifying positions secured, expectations were naturally high heading into the final.

The final once again demonstrated why Esha Singh has become one of the brightest young stars in world shooting. The 21-year-old remained composed throughout the elimination stages, maintaining consistency while several of her rivals struggled to cope with the pressure. As the field gradually reduced, Esha continued to produce accurate and timely hits, steadily moving clear of the chasing pack.

Her final tally of 40 hits proved enough to secure the gold medal in commanding fashion. The victory further cements her reputation as one of the world's premier pistol shooters and continues an extraordinary season for the Hyderabad athlete. Earlier this year, Esha made global headlines at the ISSF World Cup in Munich by setting both the senior and junior world records in the women's 25m pistol final with an astonishing 43 hits.

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Monday's triumph showed that her record-breaking performance was no one-off. Instead, it confirmed her ability to consistently perform at the highest level.

While Esha celebrated gold, Manu Bhaker once again demonstrated her remarkable consistency by claiming the bronze medal. The Paris 2024 double Olympic medallist faced a challenging route through the final, surviving an intense shoot-off to remain in medal contention before eventually finishing third with 28 hits. Although she narrowly missed another appearance in the gold medal match, the bronze continued her outstanding record in international competition. 

Few shooters have displayed the consistency Manu has achieved over recent years. Her ability to repeatedly reach finals and convert opportunities into medals remains one of her greatest strengths. The Hangzhou bronze adds another important chapter to an already glittering career.

Following her victory, Esha admitted that defending her growing reputation had become one of the biggest challenges. After creating history in Munich, she entered Hangzhou carrying significantly greater expectations. 

"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," she said. "I'm happy that I was able to get past it today and grateful that I had the ability to endure it."

Esha also revealed that returning to Hangzhou brought positive memories. She had enjoyed considerable success at the Asian Games on the same range, winning four medals.

"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," she added.

Despite missing out on gold, Manu viewed the bronze medal as another important step towards the major championships later this year.

"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," she said. "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 comments reflected the long-term mindset that has helped Manu remain among the world's elite shooters.

The double podium finish once again highlighted the remarkable strength of India's women's pistol programme. With Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat and several emerging talents consistently producing world-class performances, India possesses one of the deepest squads in international shooting.

For Esha, the Hangzhou gold is another defining achievement in a career that continues to gather momentum. Already an Olympian, an Arjuna Awardee and now a multiple ISSF World Cup champion, the 21-year-old is rapidly establishing herself among the finest pistol shooters in the world. For Manu, another international medal reinforces the consistency that has defined her remarkable journey since becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

Together, the two shooters once again demonstrated why India remains one of the global powerhouses in pistol shooting. Their performances in Hangzhou not only strengthened India's medal tally but also provided another timely reminder that the country's women shooters will be among the leading contenders at the upcoming World Championships and Asian Games. With youth, experience and confidence all working in their favour, Indian shooting continues to move from strength to strength on the international stage.