Hangzhou, July 27: India enjoyed a memorable outing at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 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 dominant performance in the final, scoring 40 hits to claim the top podium spot and continue her outstanding form after her world-record gold-winning effort in Munich earlier this season. Manu, meanwhile, showed remarkable composure in a tightly contested final, surviving a crucial shoot-off before finishing with 28 hits to bag the bronze medal.
The Indian shooters had already impressed in qualification, with Manu topping the standings with 586-20x, while Esha qualified second with 585-18x. Rahi Sarnobat also performed well, finishing with 582-16x, while Simranpreet Kaur Brar and Abhidnya Ashok Patil competed under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status.
After her victory, Esha admitted that carrying the expectations following her record-breaking performance in Munich added pressure but said she was pleased to overcome it. She also credited her familiarity with the Hangzhou range, where she won four medals at the Asian Games, for boosting her confidence.
Manu described the bronze medal as an important step in her preparations for upcoming major events, including the World Championships and Asian Games, saying the experience gained was as valuable as the medal itself.
The double podium finish further underlines India’s growing strength in international shooting and adds to an impressive medal haul at the Hangzhou World Cup.
