At the ISSF World Cup 2025 in Buenos Aires, India’s Esha Singh delivered a stellar performance, bagging the silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol event. The 20-year-old prodigy, who has consistently made headlines since her teenage years, showed nerves of steel in a tightly contested final—proving once again that she is a force to reckon with in the world of shooting.

Rising Above the Odds

Esha’s road to the final was not without its challenges. After placing ninth in the qualification round with a score of 579-15x, she narrowly made it to the top eight, thanks to two competitors playing for Ranking Points Only (RPO). Once in the final, she stayed composed under pressure and climbed her way up, eventually securing second place behind China’s Yujie Sun, who was making her senior debut.

While Sun clinched the gold with 38 hits, Esha finished with 35—just three points short in a neck-and-neck finale that kept viewers on edge. India's celebrated double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker also made it to the finals, finishing sixth after a tough shoot-off round.

From Paper Targets to Podiums

Esha’s journey is as inspiring as her performance. Born in Hyderabad in 2005, she was initially drawn to go-karting, badminton, tennis, and skating before finding her passion for shooting. Her father, Sachin Singh—a former rally driver—recognized her spark and built a paper practice range at home to support her training. She later joined the renowned Gun for Glory academy founded by Olympic medallist Gagan Narang.

Her rise through the ranks has been meteoric. Esha became the youngest national champion in 10m air pistol at just 13. Since then, she has consistently shined on international stages, including multiple medals at the Asian Games, ISSF Junior World Cup, and the Asian Airgun Championships.

A Trailblazer in the Making

In recognition of her achievements, Esha was honored with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in 2020 and the Arjuna Award in 2023. 

Her ability to maintain focus, perform under pressure, and evolve with each competition has made her a role model for aspiring shooters across the country.

Her recent silver in Buenos Aires isn’t just a medal—it’s a statement that she is ready to aim higher than ever before. Esha Singh is not only carrying the torch for Indian shooting but also redefining what young athletes can achieve.