ISSF World Cup: Esha Singh Wins Women’s 25m Pistol Gold, Manu Bhaker Takes Bronze in Hangzhou

India enjoyed another memorable day at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, as Esha Singh clinched the gold medal and Manu Bhaker secured bronze in the women’s 25m pistol event.

Esha delivered a composed performance in the final, registering 40 hits to finish atop the podium. Manu, meanwhile, displayed remarkable resilience in a fiercely contested final, surviving a crucial shoot-off before ending with 28 hits to claim the bronze medal.

The Indian duo had already stamped their authority in qualification. Manu topped the standings with an impressive score of 586-20x, while Esha finished second with 585-18x, ensuring both shooters progressed comfortably to the eight-woman final. Former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed out after scoring 582-16x, while Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576-20x) and Abhidnya Ashok Patil (573-16x), competing under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status, also delivered commendable performances.

After securing the title, Esha admitted that defending expectations following her record-breaking World Cup triumph in Munich earlier this season had been mentally challenging.

“This match carried a lot of pressure because of my previous medal. As you keep achieving more, the expectations also grow. I’m happy that I was able to overcome that challenge today,” Esha said.

The 21-year-old also credited her familiarity with the Hangzhou range, having won four medals at the 2023 Asian Games, for helping her perform confidently in the final.

Manu described the bronze medal as an important milestone ahead of a packed international calendar.

“This medal gives me confidence and clarity about what is working. More importantly, the experience from such a competitive final will help me prepare for major events like the World Championships and the Asian Games,” she said.

Esha’s latest triumph further strengthens her growing reputation on the international circuit after she created history in Munich by setting both the senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final earlier this year.

For Manu, the podium finish continues her consistent run in global competitions following her historic Paris 2024 Olympics campaign, where she became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games.