India's shooting stars once again lit up the international stage as Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker delivered a stunning double podium finish at the ISSF World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou, China. Esha clinched the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event, while Manu fought her way to a bronze, giving India another memorable day at one of the season's biggest shooting competitions.

The two medals took India's overall tally in Hangzhou to three medals—one gold, one silver, and one bronze.

Esha Singh Continues Her Golden Run

Twenty-one-year-old Esha Singh once again demonstrated why she is among the brightest young talents in international shooting. After qualifying for the final in eighth place, the Hyderabad shooter produced an outstanding performance when it mattered most. She maintained remarkable composure throughout the final, finishing with 40 hits to comfortably defeat China's Zhang Yueyue, who settled for silver with 37 hits.

The victory marked Esha's second ISSF World Cup gold medal of the season, following her triumph in the same event at the Munich World Cup earlier this year. She had also claimed a silver medal in the 10m pistol event in Munich, making 2026 one of the finest seasons of her career so far.

Earlier in the year, Esha had also created history by setting both the senior and junior world records in the 25m pistol final at the Munich World Cup.

Manu Bhaker Adds Another International Medal

India's celebration was made even sweeter by Manu Bhaker, who displayed her trademark resilience to secure the bronze medal. The two-time Olympic medallist qualified for the final after finishing sixth in the qualification round. In the medal contest, she successfully navigated a crucial shoot-off before finishing with 28 hits, earning her first individual medal of the 2026 ISSF World Cup season.

The podium finish is another significant milestone for Manu as she continues building momentum ahead of major international competitions, including the World Championships and the Asian Games.

India's Medal Count Rises

Monday's double success follows Sainyam Vij's silver medal in the women's 10m air pistol earlier in the competition, taking India's medal tally in Hangzhou to three.

The ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou has brought together the world's finest rifle, pistol, and shotgun shooters, offering valuable ranking points and qualification opportunities for the prestigious ISSF World Cup Final, scheduled to be held in Rome this December.

While several other Indian shooters narrowly missed out on podium finishes, the performances of Esha and Manu ensured that India remained among the standout nations at the competition.

For Esha Singh, the latest gold further establishes her as one of the most exciting young stars in international shooting. For Manu Bhaker, another podium finish signals that she remains a formidable contender on the world stage.