India secured a gold and bronze medal double on July 27, 2026, at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China. Esha Singh claimed the gold in the women’s 25-meter pistol event with 40 hits, while Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker took bronze with 28 hits following a qualification lead.
India’s shooting contingent turned the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou into a showcase of depth and resilience on July 27, 2026. The women’s 25-meter pistol final delivered a national double podium as Esha Singh clinched the gold medal with a commanding performance that left international competitors behind.
Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker Lead the Podium in Hangzhou
Twenty-one-year-old Esha Singh put together a flawless series under pressure in the final round, totaling 40 hits to secure the top step of the podium.
The morning qualification round had established a strong baseline for the Indian squad. Manu Bhaker led the field initially with a score of 586-20x, while Esha Singh closely followed in second place with 585-18x. Both athletes secured their places in the eight-shooter final from the fifth and seventh qualifying positions respectively.
Overcoming Expectations and Psychological Pressure
Coming off an earlier gold medal win at the Munich World Cup earlier in the season—where she set a new world record in the final with 43 points—Esha acknowledged the psychological weight she carried heading into the Chinese venue.
“મારી પાછલી જીતને કારણે મારા પર ઘણું દબાણ હતું. જ્યારે તમે કોઈ સ્પર્ધામાં સારું પ્રદર્શન કરો છો, ત્યારે તમારી પાસેથી ઘણી અપેક્ષાઓ રાખવામાં આવે છે. મને ખુશી છે કે હું આજે તે દબાણનો સામનો કરી શકી.”
Esha Singh, via ETV Bharat
Translated from the sourced remarks, Esha noted that the prior victory created significant expectations, but she was pleased to handle the pressure successfully on the range. She also expressed a personal affinity for the Hangzhou shooting venue, which helped bolster her confidence.
Broader Squad Performance and Confidence for Future Games
For Manu Bhaker, who secured two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Hangzhou podium finish represents a vital stepping stone toward upcoming international championships.
“આ મેડલ મારા માટે ખૂબ જ મહત્વપૂર્ણ છે કારણ કે આવી સફળતા એક પગથિયું જેવું કામ કરે છે; તે મને સમજવામાં મદદ કરે છે કે હું કઈ દિશામાં આગળ વધી રહી છું. આ મેડલે ચોક્કસપણે મારા આત્મવિશ્વાસમાં વધારો કર્યો છે, અને તે મને વર્લ્ડ ચેમ્પિયનશિપ અને એશિયન ગેમ્સમાં ફાયદો કરાવશે.”
Manu Bhaker, via ETV Bharat
The wider Indian team also posted competitive marks during the qualification sessions. Former Asian Games gold medalist Rahi Sarnobat shot 582, while Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576) and Abhijna Ashok Patil (573) competed as Ranking Points Only (RPO) entries.
Officials, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, turned to social media to congratulate both shooters on their achievements, highlighting the double-medal success as a proud moment for the country on the international shooting circuit.
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