India’s Esha Singh Creates History With Record-Breaking Gold at ISSF World Cup

Indian shooter Esha Singh made history at the ISSF World Cup in Munich where she won Gold in the Women’s 25m pistol tournament, setting a new world record score of 43.

Esha, who is just 21 years old, beat some of the top shooters all over the world - including the Paris Olympic champion Yang Jinn of South Korea, who completed her rounds in the final by finishing up fifth. German former world champion Doreen Vennekamp won 38 points at silver, and Esha came far ahead after dominating in the final.

With this record, Esha broke the last world record of 42 set by Kim Yeji in 2024. The whole time in a title-winning match, no matter how high-level or weak, she shot off guard. Esha said she is always concentrating more on her own performance than that of the world big names. The Women’s 25m pistol is one of the most difficult shooting disciplines. Shooters have only three seconds to raise the pistol, aim, and then shoot the target in the rapid-fire stage. Esha won first prize as a 10m air pistol player but began training for the 25m pistol event in 2022 with coach Ronak Pandit. Her coach developed a new method where she slowly lifts the pistol and releases the shot with ease instead of freezing before kicking in.

The tactic paid off in Munich. Esha was unglazed in the opening rounds and won both rounds, finishing up the Gold gold medal with a stunning last series that saw her take her to a world record score in its final which took place in a world championship final series. This is not Esha’s first international victory in any event. Last year, she won a silver medal in the World Cup in Argentina and a bronze at Cairo’s World Championships. Earlier this year, she became the Asian champion as well. At the World Championships in Doha later this year and the country’s Olympic qualification candidates, Esha Singh is now coming up as one of India’s biggest medal hopes for Los Angeles. Her rise from a kid shooter to world record-holder in four years for the entire country has made everyone patriotic.