Adding to the frequent instances of Indian women shining in the field of sports, Esha Singh has secured her place in the spotlight by winning a gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol category at the ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) World Cup 2026 in Munich, Germany. She claimed two world records with this historic win; by hitting 43 targets, Esha broke the established senior world record of 42 set by Korean shooter Kim Ye-ji, as well as Olympic gold medalist Yang Ji-in’s junior record of 41, both of which were set in 2024.
Esha showcased a dominating performance, winning the gold with a massive 5-point gap ahead of her closest competitor. German shooter Doreen Vennekamp claimed the silver medal with 38 hits. Having won bronze medals in world competitions last year, Esha was thrilled to defeat such talented competitors in this manner. While she had hoped to manifest at least one medal in this prestigious event, she had not anticipated breaking a world record. She stated, “I didn’t think of creating a new world record, but I am happy I did as a record with gold at this range would mean a lot.”
The 21-year-old shooter expressed that this victory will surely boost her confidence. Furthermore, the win has qualified her directly for a spot in the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final, which is scheduled to be held in Rome, Italy, this December.
Extremely pleased with Esha’s performance, her coach shared the insight that a recent grip change had significantly improved her stance and worked in her favor.
A Growing Recognition for Indian Sportswomen
Professional shooting is being greatly celebrated by Indian women, with Manu Bhaker already holding Olympic medals. Though shooting is often recognized as an overlooked sport, one that is not discussed as widely as cricket or football, Indian sportswomen are breaking barriers across multiple disciplines. For instance, chess grandmaster Divya Deshmukh recently secured a victory against World Champion Ju Wenjun this year. With the progressive success of Indian sportswomen, it is highly anticipated that both the public and the sports system will increasingly discuss and appreciate their efforts to compete and win in arenas where physical and mental agility are essential.