Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday, 27 July 2026, congratulated Indian shooters Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker after the duo claimed gold and bronze medals respectively in the Women's 25m Pistol event at the ISSF Shooting World Cup 2026, calling the achievement a moment of pride for the entire nation.

Context

Posting on X, CM Choudhary wrote: 'भारत की बेटियां आज विश्व मंच पर अपनी प्रतिभा और पराक्रम से नए कीर्तिमान गढ़ रही हैं' — 'India's daughters are today setting new records on the world stage with their talent and courage.' He specifically noted that Esha Singh won the gold medal and Manu Bhaker won the bronze medal in the Women's 25m Pistol competition, describing both performances as the result of 'relentless hard work, discipline, and dedication.'

The Chief Minister extended his 'heartfelt congratulations' to both athletes and wished them 'infinite good wishes' for upcoming competitions. The post included a video, underlining the significance he attached to the occasion.

Policy Backdrop

India's rise in international shooting has been one of the more consistent success stories in the country's elite sport over the past decade, supported by expanded training infrastructure and federation-level investment. Women athletes have been central to this progress, with Manu Bhaker emerging as one of the most decorated names in recent years — she won two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 10m Air Pistol and 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team events, becoming the first Indian athlete in the modern era to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.

Esha Singh has established herself as a strong performer at the ISSF circuit level, and her gold medal in the Women's 25m Pistol event marks a significant individual milestone. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), the global governing body for the sport, organises the World Cup series as a key qualification and ranking pathway for major multi-sport events including the Olympics.

Stakeholders and Impact

The results carry significance beyond the medal tally. For aspiring women shooters across India, performances by athletes like Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker on the world stage reinforce the viability of shooting as a professional career path. State governments and national federations often point to such results to justify continued funding for training academies and coaching programmes.

Political leaders, including state chief ministers, have increasingly used platforms like X to amplify sporting achievements, connecting national pride with broader narratives around women's empowerment and athletic development. CM Choudhary's post fits within this pattern, signalling Bihar's alignment with national sporting milestones even when the athletes in question are not from the state.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to subsequent stages of the ISSF World Cup 2026 series and other international competitions as Indian shooters build their ranking points and form ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification cycle. Both Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker are expected to remain central figures in India's Olympic shooting programme. Strong performances at World Cup level this year will be critical in securing quota places and seeding advantages for the Games.