Indian shooter Esha Singh made history on Friday by securing her first individual world championship medal, a bronze, in the women's 25m Pistol event at the ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, Egypt. The event took place at the Olympic Shooting Range, marking a significant milestone in her career.
A Hard-Fought Final
Esha Singh demonstrated remarkable skill in the final, scoring 30 hits against a competitive field. The gold medal was claimed by Korea's Olympic Champion, Yang Jiin, who dominated with a score of 40. China's Yao Qianxun took the silver medal with a score of 38.
Esha's journey to the podium was intense. She and fellow Indian shooter Manu Bhaker advanced to the top eight after strong performances in the rapid-fire round of qualifications. Esha qualified in fifth place with a score of 587, while Manu secured the sixth spot with 586.
India's Historic Campaign in Cairo
The conclusion of the Cairo World Championship was a landmark moment for Indian shooting. The nation's athletes secured a historic haul in Olympic events, winning one gold, four silver, and two bronze medals.
In the overall medal tally, which includes non-Olympic categories, India finished in an impressive third place. The team bagged a total of three gold, five silver, and four bronze medals. The powerhouse teams of China (10 gold) and Korea (six gold) finished first and second, respectively.
In the team event for the women's 25m pistol, the Indian trio of Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, and Rahi Sarnobat finished fourth with a total of 1745 points, narrowly missing the bronze medal by a mere three points to the French team.
Road to the Podium and Future Prospects
The final was a test of nerve and precision. Yang Jiin set a formidable pace from the start, scoring a perfect five in the first series. After the fourth series, Esha was holding onto third place. The competition reached a critical point after the seventh series when Esha, Manu Bhaker, and France's Lamolle Mathilde were tied at 23 hits.
Manu was eliminated shortly after, scoring two hits. Esha then shot a perfect five to stay in contention and ultimately secured the bronze medal by scoring four hits against Lamolle's three in the decisive stage. She exited after the ninth series, cementing her place on the podium.
This bronze medal in Cairo is Esha Singh's third individual ISSF medal in 2023, adding to the gold and silver she won at various World Cup stages earlier in the year. Her final international appearance for 2023 will be the ISSF World Cup Finals in Doha this December.
In other events at the championship, Indian shooters also competed in the 50m Rifle Prone categories for both men and women, with both teams finishing in fifth place in their respective team events.
