Esha Singh Shoots Down the Field, Wins ISSF World Cup Gold as Manu Bhaker Adds Bronze

India's women shooters delivered another memorable performance on the global stage as Esha Singh clinched gold and Manu Bhaker claimed bronze in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup on Monday, giving India a superb double podium finish in Hangzhou.

The 21-year-old Esha Singh produced a composed and commanding display in the final, registering 40 hits to comfortably secure the gold medal. The Hyderabad shooter once again showcased her ability to thrive under pressure, extending what has been a remarkable season on the international circuit.

Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker also displayed immense grit in a fiercely contested final. After surviving a crucial shoot-off to stay in medal contention, she finished with 28 hits to secure the bronze, ensuring two Indian shooters finished on the podium in one of the competition's marquee events.

The Indian duo had already stamped their authority during qualification. Manu topped the standings with an impressive 586-20x, while Esha followed closely in second place with 585-18x, as both comfortably advanced to the eight-shooter final.

Former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed out on the final after shooting 582-16x. Meanwhile, Simranpreet Kaur Brar ( 576-20x) and Abhidnya Ashok Patil ( 573-16x), competing under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status, also delivered steady performances.

Speaking after her victory, Esha admitted that defending the expectations created by her record-breaking success earlier this season had been mentally challenging. She said winning in Hangzhou was especially satisfying because she was able to overcome that pressure. The familiar venue also worked in her favour, having previously won four medals at the Asian Games held there.

Manu described the bronze medal as an important confidence booster and said the experience gained from such a high-quality competition would prove invaluable ahead of the World Championships and the Asian Games.

The latest triumph further cements Esha Singh's emergence as one of India's brightest shooting stars. Earlier this season in Munich, she created history by setting both the senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final. With Esha continuing her golden run and Manu rediscovering her medal-winning rhythm, Indian shooting heads into the season's biggest events with growing confidence and momentum.