Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday, 27 July 2026 congratulated Indian shooters Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker after the two athletes won medals in the women's 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup held in Hangzhou, China. Saini hailed the achievement as a moment of pride for every Indian.

Context

Posting on X, CM Saini wrote: 'चीन के हांगझोउ में आयोजित ISSF विश्व कप में महिला 25 मीटर पिस्टल स्पर्धा में भारत की बेटी ईशा सिंह द्वारा स्वर्ण पदक और मनु भाकर द्वारा कांस्य पदक जीतना प्रत्येक भारतीय के लिए गर्व का क्षण है।' (Winning a gold medal by India's daughter Esha Singh and a bronze medal by Manu Bhaker in the women's 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup held in Hangzhou, China, is a moment of pride for every Indian.) He added that the achievement symbolises the courage, talent, and excellence of the country's daughters, and extended heartfelt congratulations along with wishes for a bright future to both athletes.

Esha Singh claimed the gold medal in the event, while Manu Bhaker secured the bronze, giving India a strong double podium finish in the discipline.

Policy Backdrop

India has steadily expanded its footprint in international shooting since the early 2000s, backed by targeted training infrastructure and private academies. Haryana, in particular, has produced a disproportionately large share of national team members in pistol and rifle events — a trend that state leadership has consistently acknowledged and sought to amplify.

Manu Bhaker is one of India's most decorated pistol shooters, having previously won Olympic medals and established herself as a benchmark for the next generation of women athletes in the sport. Esha Singh has similarly emerged as a prominent name in Indian shooting circuits, with her gold here reinforcing that trajectory.

Stakeholders and Impact

The double-podium finish carries significance beyond individual glory. For Haryana — a state that has long positioned itself as a nursery of Indian sport — such results validate sustained investment in athlete development and coaching infrastructure. Official recognition from the Chief Minister also signals continued political will to support women in competitive sport.

For the ISSF World Cup circuit, India's performance in the 25-metre pistol category underlines the country's growing depth in an event that feeds directly into Olympic qualification rankings. Both athletes are expected to remain central to India's shooting squad as the next Olympic cycle progresses.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to upcoming selection announcements for the next Olympic cycle, where performances at ISSF World Cup stages carry significant weight. Any follow-up sports budget allocations or felicitation announcements from the Haryana government will be closely watched as a measure of how the state translates political praise into institutional support for its athletes.