Esha Singh Creates History With World Record Gold at ISSF World Cup 2026 in Munich

The victory marked far more than a gold medal for India. Competing against some of the world’s biggest shooting stars, Esha announced herself as the country’s newest global shooting icon with a fearless and dominant display under pressure.

The high-intensity final featured reigning Olympic champion Yang Ji-in among the leading contenders, but Esha’s precision, composure and consistency outclassed the entire field. She began the final in explosive fashion, firing three consecutive perfect series and immediately taking control of the contest.

As the elimination stages intensified and several established shooters struggled under pressure, Esha’s accuracy and focus only improved. Her confidence became increasingly visible with every round, eventually taking her tally to 43 hits, now officially the highest score ever recorded in the women’s 25 metre pistol event.

The historic achievement not only secured the gold medal but also earned Esha direct qualification for the ISSF World Cup Final, scheduled to be held in Rome later this year.

Germany’s former world champion Doreen Vennekamp claimed the silver medal with 38 hits, while Bulgaria’s Miroslava Mincheva settled for bronze.

Esha’s achievement became even more remarkable considering she had entered the final after finishing fifth in the qualification round. She recorded a total score of 587-19x, including 293 points in the precision round and 294 in rapid fire. However, it was in the final where she elevated her performance to an entirely different level.

Olympic gold medallist Yang Ji-in had dominated qualification with an impressive score of 592-28x and was widely considered the favourite for the title. However, she failed to maintain her rhythm in the final and eventually slipped to fifth position.

Esha’s historic triumph triggered celebrations across India. Industrialist Anand Mahindra also praised the young shooter on social media, applauding her extraordinary performance on the international stage.

Meanwhile, India’s star shooter Manu Bhaker failed to qualify for the final in the women’s 25 metre pistol event. Manu finished 12th with a score of 582-19x, while experienced shooter Rahi Sarnobat ended in 14th position.

Esha Singh will now compete in the women’s 10 metre air pistol event, where expectations for another medal-winning performance remain extremely high. Her record-breaking display in Munich has reinforced India’s growing dominance in international shooting and established her as one of the brightest talents in world sport.