Indian shooter Esha Singh has clinched the gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol at the ISSF World Cup in Ningbo, China. The victory, a tense affair decided by just 0.1 point, marks Esha's maiden World Cup gold in the event and is India’s first medal at this meet. Her win has moved India to fifth in the medal standings.
At the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre, the 20-year-old Olympian edged out home favorite Yao Qianxun for the title, with reigning Olympic champion Oh Yejin of South Korea taking the bronze. Esha, who is also the reigning mixed team pistol world champion, showed immense composure to secure the win in a high-pressure final. "I am very happy as this is the first event that I started with and to win a world cup gold in it…I am just happy that some of my goals are being reached," Singh said after the match.
Esha and her teammate Rhythm Sangwan both qualified for the final with identical scores of 578, securing the last two available spots. In the final, Rhythm started strong but finished in a respectable fifth place. Esha, meanwhile, held her nerve, producing crucial shots at key moments to stave off Yao’s late surge. When asked about the pressure of the moment, she said she was aware of it, but added, "I now know that the pistol is in my hand and the battle is with me so I try to enjoy the match as much as possible."
The win is a major achievement for the young shooter, especially since India has fielded a team of fourth to sixth-ranked shooters in each event at the tournament. In other results, India's men's team in the 25m rapid-fire pistol did not make the final, with Bhavesh Shekhawat and Pradeep Singh Shekhawat finishing 22nd and 23rd respectively.
Looking ahead, Esha Singh is already focused on her next challenge. "Yes, obviously, the world championship is the next big one for the year," she said. "We are training very hard for it, and I am sure you will see very good things from the Indian team in Cairo." Her gold medal win provides a major confidence boost for the Indian team as they prepare for the upcoming championships.