Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the Asian Games, triumphing over four shoot-offs before ultimately losing in the decisive fifth tie-breaker to China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan. The 21-year-old shooter from Hyderabad, who is currently ranked world No. 1, qualified for the final in eighth position with a score of 580 and 22 Xs.

Throughout the event, Singh displayed remarkable skill and resilience. After entering the final match, she faced intense competition, surviving two ties and winning a crucial third shoot-off against North Korea’s Kim Hyon Suk to advance into the gold-medal match.

Medal Contention and Final Match Details

During the battle for silver, both Esha and Kim were tied at 34 hits, leading to a series of shoot-offs. The initial two shoot-offs resulted in 3-3 scores for both shooters, but Esha prevailed with a score of 3-2 in the third shoot-off, securing her spot in the finals for the gold medal. In the gold-medal contest, both Esha and Xiao concluded the regulation final with 38 hits, equalling the Games Record established by Liu Rui during the Hangzhou 2023 event.

The first shoot-off ended in a tie at 4-4, necessitating another round to determine the winner. Ultimately, Xiao managed to edge out Esha with a score of 3-2 in the final shoot-off, earning her the gold. Reflecting on the experience, Esha mentioned feeling immense pressure and described the match as the longest of her career, citing fatigue and physical strain by the end of the contest.

Historic Achievements and Team Performance

This silver medal marks Esha Singh’s second individual medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the Asian Games, adding to her previous silver medal at Hangzhou 2023. The medal also provided India with a notable individual achievement in this event, particularly as two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker did not qualify for the final.

Bhaker finished in eleventh place with a score of 579 points and 18 Xs, whereas Rahi Sarnobat came in thirtieth with 568 points and 16 Xs. Earlier in the day, the Indian trio comprised of Manu, Esha, and Rahi concluded fifth in the women’s 25m pistol team event, accumulating a total score of 1727-56x. In this team event, China emerged victorious with a score of 1743-68x.

Meanwhile, South Korea claimed the silver with 1735-65x, and Chinese Taipei took home the bronze with 1734-48x. With this medal, shooting has now contributed twelve medals to India’s tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which includes one gold, seven silver, and four bronze medals. This continued success highlights the strength and prowess of Indian shooters on an international platform.

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