Indian shooters Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker starred with a memorable double podium finish in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, as Esha clinched gold while Manu settled for bronze to boost India’s medal tally.
Esha produced a composed display in the eight-woman final, registering 40 hits to claim the gold medal. Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker fought hard in a closely contested final, surviving a crucial shoot-off before finishing with 28 hits to secure bronze.
The Indian pair had dominated qualification, with Manu topping the field on 586-20x and Esha close behind on 585-18x to qualify comfortably for the final. Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed out after shooting 582-16x.
Reflecting on her victory, Esha said, “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.”
The 21-year-old Hyderabad shooter added that her familiarity with the Hangzhou range, where she won four medals at the Asian Games, helped her performance. Earlier this year, Esha created history in Munich by setting senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final.
Calling the bronze a significant step, Manu said, “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.”
The medal adds to Manu’s remarkable international record after becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games in Paris 2024.