Esha Singh had a good start in the eight-shooter final women’s 25m pistol event. She kept her calm to win India’s first gold medal of the competition.

India’s promising pistol shooter Esha Singh proved that she is a hard nut to crack. In an action packed eight-shooter final in the women’s 25m pistol, Esha Singh raced to a good lead and held her nerves to sustain her efforts. China’s Yueye Zhang was breathing down her neck but the Indian shooter’s initial lead proved decisive. She won the gold medal, India’s first in the competition, with 40 points. The Chinese shooter scored 37 points to win silver.

Paris Olympic Games bronze medalist, Manu Bhakar clinched the bronze medal with a score of 28 points. Manu Bhaker missed two points in the first five shot series and three in the second five shot series which proved costly and she settled for the bronze medal.

Esha Singh was seventh in the qualification round with a score of 585 but was more consistent than her rivals in the final. Manu Bhakwer shot 586 to earn fifth place in qualification round, but went on to win bronze in the final.

Earlier in the competition the Indian men’s 25m rapid fire shooters weren’t impressive in the World Cup. Bhavesh Shekhawat shot 577 to finish at 22^nd place. Omkar Singh was further down (24^th) the ladder with 576. Olympian Anish shot 576 to finish at 25^th place.

With one gold medal and one silver and one bronze, India is currently at third spot on the table. Hosts China is leading the field with eight gold medals. USA has two gold medals and is placed second in the medal tally.

EOM