Esha Singh, representing India, clinched a silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou on September 27. The highly anticipated competition saw Manu Bhaker, the top qualifier and a medal hopeful, finishing in the 5th position during the final round.
Esha Singh’s remarkable silver medal achievement came shortly after the Indian women’s team, comprising Esha, Manu Bhaker, and Rhythm Sangwan, secured a gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol team event. India dominated the qualification stage, although Rhythm Sangwan narrowly missed the final as only two athletes per country were permitted in the 8-woman final.
In the women’s 25m pistol final, 18-year-old Esha Singh exhibited her prowess by accumulating a total of 34 points. She concluded the event just four points behind China’s Liu Rui, who established a new Games record with 38 points. Yang Jiin from Korea secured the bronze medal with 29 points. Meanwhile, Manu Bhaker, despite her high hopes, ended up in 5th place during the final with a total of 21 points. She was the fourth shooter to be eliminated from the competition.
Esha Singh’s journey to silver was marked by a gradual improvement in her performance. She began slowly, scoring 2 and 3 in the first two series, but then displayed her exceptional skills by shooting three consecutive perfect series.
Notably, an unusual and prolonged delay occurred during the final due to a missing shot by a Korean shooter. This unexpected incident prompted the judges to thoroughly inspect both the target and the backup target to determine whether the shot had truly missed the target or if there was a registration issue. Esha Singh’s silver medal triumph is a testament to her talent and determination on the international stage.