Esha’s win pushed India to fifth in the medal table, sharing one gold with four nations
Ningbo
Olympian Esha Singh gave India reason to celebrate on Saturday by winning her maiden ISSF World Cup gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event. The 20-year-old shooter ended India’s medal drought at the competition in Ningbo, China, edging out home favourite Yao Qianxun by just 0.1 point in a tense final. South Korea’s Olympic champion Oh Yejin settled for bronze.
Esha’s victory lifted India to fifth place in the medal standings, joining four other nations with one gold medal each. Hosts China lead the table with two gold, four silver, and one bronze. India fielded its fourth to sixth ranked shooters in each event, making her triumph even more significant.
“I am very happy as this was the first event I started with. To win a World Cup gold here feels like my goals are slowly being achieved,” Esha said after her win. She added that her next big challenge will be the World Championship in Cairo later this year.
In the qualification round, Esha and teammate Rhythm Sangwan both scored 578 to secure the last two final spots. China’s Yao led with 584, while India’s Palak Gulia, competing for ranking points, shot 586. Surbhi Rao placed 25th with 568.
In the final, Rhythm began strongly but finished fifth after steady eliminations. Esha, however, held her nerve with key 10.7 shots, finishing with 242.6 to secure gold ahead of Yao’s 242.5.
Elsewhere, in men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol, Bhavesh Shekhawat and Pradeep Singh Shekhawat both scored 575, finishing 22nd and 23rd respectively. Mandeep Singh placed 39th with 562.