Esha Singh announced herself as one of the brightest stars in world shooting on after producing a sensational, record-breaking performance to clinch gold in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Competing against an elite international field at one of the sport’s most demanding venues, the 21-year-old Indian shooter rewrote both the senior and junior world records while securing India’s first medal of the tournament.
The Hyderabad shooter delivered a breathtaking score of 43 in the final, surpassing the previous senior world record of 42 set by South Korea’s Kim Ye-ji in 2024. In the process, she also eclipsed the junior world record of 41 held by reigning Olympic champion Yang Ji-in. The margin of victory underlined the sheer authority of her performance. Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp, backed by the home crowd and carrying the reputation of a former world champion, finished a distant second with 38, while Bulgaria’s Miroslava Mincheva settled for bronze.
Esha Dominates a Final Packed with Champions
The Munich World Cup has long been regarded as one of the sternest examinations in international shooting, especially in pistol events where qualification margins are often razor-thin. Yet Esha looked in complete control from the opening series.
She stormed into the final with three consecutive perfect scores, immediately creating daylight between herself and the rest of the field. In a contest featuring Olympic medallists, world champions and seasoned European shooters, the Indian maintained exceptional rhythm and composure throughout the elimination stages.
Esha fired perfect fives in five of the ten series, an extraordinary feat under pressure. Even as rivals faltered, she continued extending her lead with clinical precision. At one stage, she stood four shots clear of the chasing pack, effectively placing the contest beyond reach.
Olympic champion Yang Ji-in, expected to challenge strongly, failed to sustain momentum and eventually exited in fifth place. By the closing rounds, attention had shifted entirely towards the possibility of a new world record. Esha eventually sealed history with scores of four and three in the final two series, taking her tally to an unprecedented 43.
‘I Really Wanted This Medal’: Esha Opens Up After Historic Win
After the final, Esha described the victory as one of the most significant moments of her career. She admitted that while she had arrived in Munich determined to win a medal, she had not imagined rewriting the record books in such emphatic fashion.
Calling Munich one of the most prestigious World Cups on the shooting calendar, Esha acknowledged the immense level of competition in pistol shooting and said even qualifying for the top eight remains a major achievement at the venue.
The Indian shooter also spoke candidly about the nerves she experienced during the final. At one stage, she revealed, her left hand was shaking while she tried to hear the commands. However, she stressed that pressure is inseparable from elite sport and credited her ability to stay focused on training and process.
Massive Boost Ahead of Asian Games and World Championships
Esha qualified fourth for the final after shooting 587 across qualification, including 293 in precision and 294 in rapid fire. Fellow Indians Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat finished 12th and 14th respectively in a highly competitive 98-shooter field.
The gold medal marked Esha’s fourth individual ISSF World Cup medal and further strengthened her credentials ahead of a packed season featuring the Asian Games and World Championships later this year. Her coach Ronak Pandit later pointed to a recent grip adjustment as a crucial factor behind her improved stability and rhythm.
Elsewhere, India’s Ashi Chouksey narrowly missed the women’s 50m rifle three positions final by a single point after shooting 589. Vidarsa Vinod finished 14th with 588, while Tilottama Sen ended 48th.
India’s campaign in Munich now moves towards the women’s 10m air rifle event, where Olympian Elavenil Valarivan, Arya Borse and debutant Sakshi Padekar will compete.
For now, though, the Munich range belongs to Esha Singh, whose extraordinary display of nerve, precision and authority has firmly established her among the most formidable young shooters in the world.