Esha strikes gold, Manu claims bronze in women's 25m pistol at ISSF World Cup
Esha Singh won the gold medal while Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker claimed bronze as India secured a double podium finish in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup here on Monday.
The 21-year-old Esha produced a commanding performance in the final, registering 40 hits to claim the top spot. Manu, a double Olympic medallist at the Paris 2024 Games, finished with 28 hits after winning a crucial shoot-off in a closely contested field.
The Indian shooters had set the benchmark in qualification, with Manu topping the standings with 586-20x, followed by Esha with 585-18x. Both advanced to the eight-shooter final.
Former Asian Games gold medallist Rahi Sarnobat finished with 582-16x, while Simranpreet Kaur Brar and Abhidnya Ashok Patil posted 576-20x and 573-16x, respectively, competing under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status.
The gold was another landmark achievement for Esha, who earlier this season set senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final of the ISSF World Cup in Munich.
"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," Esha said.
Manu said the bronze would serve as a stepping stone as she prepares for major assignments, including the World Championships and Asian Games.
"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.
