Esha Singh Makes History at ISSF World Cup in Munich
New Delhi: Esha Singh of India made headlines at the ISSF World Cup in Munich by clinching gold in the women’s 25m pistol event, setting a world record with 43 hits out of 50 in the final. The 21-year-old athlete displayed remarkable composure during a high-pressure final that included Olympic champion Yang Ji-in and former world champion Doreen Vennekamp. Esha’s victory also guarantees her spot in the ISSF World Cup Final scheduled to take place in Rome later this year.
Esha’s score not only secured a new world record at both senior and junior levels but also showcased her dominance in the event. She took early control in the medal round, achieving three consecutive perfect series while maintaining her accuracy in the elimination rounds.
Doreen Vennekamp of Germany finished with the silver medal, recording 38 hits, while Bulgaria’s Miroslava Mincheva took home bronze with a score of 31. Yang Ji-in, who led the qualification round with a score of 592-28x, ended up in fifth place after struggling with consistency during the final.
This gold medal represents India’s first individual medal of the ISSF World Cup season, spanning rifle, pistol, and shotgun categories. Esha qualified for the final in fifth place, achieving an aggregate score of 587-19x, comprised of 293 in precision and 294 in rapid fire. However, she exhibited a sharper performance in the final, steadily increasing her lead over the competition. While several experienced competitors faltered in the elimination rounds, Esha maintained her focus to finish with a record-breaking total of 43 hits.
In other developments, Mukesh Nelavalli and Palak Gulia previously secured gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event in Granada, while Vivaan Kapoor and Neeru Dhanda achieved bronze in the mixed team trap event in Almaty.
Despite Esha’s success, there was disappointment for fellow Indian shooters in the women’s 25m pistol event. Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker narrowly missed making the final, finishing in 12th place with a score of 582-19x, while Rahi Sarnobat placed 14th.
Esha Singh is set to compete next in the women’s 10m air pistol event in Munich, continuing her campaign at the World Cup alongside Manu Bhaker.
