Esha Singh has brought immense pride to India by delivering a stellar performance in the women's 25m pistol event at the Asian Games 2026. In a display of exceptional skill and composure, she secured the silver medal, marking a significant milestone in her career and adding to India's growing medal tally in the prestigious tournament, while her journey to the podium was marked by intense competition and a series of high-stakes shoot-offs that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. With this achievement, India's total medal count in the Asian Games 2026 has reached 39 medals.
Exceptional Recovery Under Pressure
The final match began with significant challenges for Esha Singh. At one point, she slipped to the fourth position, putting her medal hopes at risk. However, she demonstrated remarkable resilience and made a brilliant comeback under pressure. After the completion of 40 shots, Esha Singh and North Korea's Kim Hyon Suk were locked in a tie with 34-34 points each. This necessitated a thrilling shoot-off tie-breaker to decide the third position and who would advance to the gold medal match. In the third shoot-off, Esha Singh displayed superior accuracy, defeating Kim Hyon Suk with a score of 3-2. This victory ensured at least a silver medal for Esha, while Kim Hyon Suk had to settle for the bronze medal.
The Battle for Gold Against China
After securing her place in the top two, Esha Singh faced China's Jiaruixuan Xiao in a direct confrontation for the gold medal. The competition reached a fever pitch as both athletes finished with an identical score of 38-38, leading to a tie-breaker for the gold medal. The first shoot-off saw both Esha and Xiao hitting 4-4 targets each, maintaining the deadlock. The tension escalated into a second shoot-off to determine the ultimate winner, while in this final decisive round, Jiaruixuan Xiao managed to hit 3 targets, while Esha Singh hit 2 targets. Consequently, the Chinese athlete claimed the gold medal, and Esha Singh was awarded the silver medal. Despite missing out on the gold by a narrow margin, Esha's performance was historic as she also equaled the existing Asian Games record during the event.
Disappointment for Manu Bhaker
While Esha Singh celebrated her success, it was a disappointing outing for Manu Bhaker in the same event. Manu Bhaker failed to qualify for the final of the women's 25m pistol, finishing in 11th place. This follows her earlier struggle in the 10m air pistol event, where she also failed to secure a medal due to a poor performance in the precision series. Also, the Indian team as a whole couldn't find a place in the top three positions in this category. In contrast, Esha Singh had managed to qualify for the individual final by securing the 8th position in the qualification round, eventually turning that opportunity into a silver medal for the country.