India's New Shooting Star: 21-Year-Old Esha Singh Shatters World Record to Win ISSF World Cup Gold

At just 21, Indian shooter Esha Singh has delivered the kind of performance athletes dream of. Competing against some of the world’s finest shooters at the ISSF World Cup 2026 in Munich, Germany, Esha not only won the women’s 25m pistol gold medal but also shattered the world record in spectacular fashion.The young Indian ace scored an incredible 43 out of 50 in the final, surpassing the previous world record of 42 held by South Korea’s Kim Ye-ji. The score now stands as both the senior and junior world record, making the achievement even more extraordinary.In a competition packed with elite names, including reigning Olympic champion Yang Ji-in of South Korea, Esha displayed remarkable calm, consistency, and confidence under pressure.A Final Dominated by Precision and Nerves of SteelEsha’s journey in the final was nothing short of breathtaking. She came out firing from the very beginning, registering three perfect sets and hitting all 15 of her opening shots to establish an early lead. From there, she never looked back.While experienced shooters around her struggled to maintain rhythm, Esha held her composure through every elimination round. Her sharp shooting and mental toughness helped her maintain the lead till the very end, sealing a memorable gold medal for India.Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp, a former world champion and European Games gold medallist, took silver with 38 points, while Bulgaria’s Miroslava Mincheva secured bronze with 31.Olympic champion Yang Ji-in, who had topped the qualification round with an impressive 592-28x, surprisingly exited in fifth place after missing 13 shots in the final.India’s First Individual Shooting Medal of the SeasonEsha’s victory carries immense significance for Indian shooting. Her gold medal is India’s first individual medal of the ISSF World Cup season across rifle, pistol, and shotgun categories.The win also guarantees her a direct qualification spot for the prestigious ISSF World Cup Final scheduled to take place in Rome, Italy, later this year. The Rise of a Young StarEsha Singh has steadily built her reputation as one of India’s most promising shooters over the last few years. An Asian Games silver medallist and a Paris 2024 Olympian, she has consistently impressed with her fearless performances.Earlier this year, she clinched the individual 10m air pistol gold medal at the Asian Shooting Championships, and now, with a world record in Munich, she has elevated her status to a completely new level. Despite qualifying fifth with a score of 587-19x, Esha transformed herself in the final when it mattered most. Speaking after her triumph, Esha acknowledged the importance of the Munich event. “Munich meant a lot to me. Everyone in the sport knows the level of competition there, especially in pistol. It is very, very tough, and even getting into the top eight is quite tight,” she said.Mixed Day for Other Indian ShootersWhile Esha stole the spotlight, it was a disappointing outing for Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, who narrowly missed qualification for the final. Manu finished 12th with a score of 582-19x despite a strong rapid-fire round.Veteran shooter Rahi Sarnobat also failed to make the cut, ending in 14th place.Meanwhile, Indian shooters Arshdeep Kaur and Tejaswani competed under Ranking Points Only status and finished further down the standings.Still, the day firmly belonged to Esha Singh. She will next be seen in action in the women’s 10m air pistol event in Munich alongside Manu Bhaker.