Nitish Kumar Congratulates Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker on ISSF World Cup Gold, Bronze
Synopsis
Former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar publicly congratulated shooters Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker after they won gold and bronze respectively in the women's 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup, calling their performance a matter of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup .
Manu Bhaker won the bronze medal in the same event.
Former Bihar CM and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar extended congratulations via X on 27 July 2026 .
Kumar credited both athletes with 'enhancing India's glory on the world stage.' Shooting remains one of India's most consistent international medal-winning disciplines.
The results contribute to India's qualification standing for the next Olympic cycle.
Former Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) national president Nitish Kumar on Monday, 27 July 2026 congratulated Indian shooters Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker for winning gold and bronze medals respectively in the women's 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup.
Posting on X, Kumar wrote — 'ISSF vishwa cup ki mahila 25 meter pistol spardha mein swarn padak vijeta Esha Singh ji evam kansya padak vijeta Manu Bhaker ji ko hardik badhai' — ['Heartfelt congratulations to gold medallist Esha Singh and bronze medallist Manu Bhaker in the women's 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup.'] He added that both athletes had 'enhanced India's glory on the world stage through their outstanding performance' and wished them a bright future.
Context
The post follows Esha Singh's gold-medal finish and Manu Bhaker's bronze-medal finish in the women's 25-metre pistol discipline at the ISSF World Cup. Kumar addressed both athletes directly by their X handles — @singhesha10 and @realmanubhaker — a gesture that amplifies the congratulations to their own follower bases.
Issuing public felicitations to athletes after international victories is a well-established practice among Indian political leaders, serving to connect regional political figures with national sporting achievements and reinforce a shared sense of pride.
Policy Backdrop
Shooting has been one of India's most consistent medal-producing disciplines at the global level over recent decades, with the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) — the sport's global governing body — hosting the World Cup circuit as the premier annual competitive platform below the Olympics.
Manu Bhaker is among India's most decorated pistol shooters, having accumulated multiple Olympic and ISSF World Cup medals. Esha Singh has established herself as a leading competitor in ISSF pistol events. Their performances at this World Cup continue a pattern of strong Indian results in the discipline.
Stakeholders and Impact
The congratulatory message from a senior national political figure like Nitish Kumar — who leads the Janata Dal (United) at the national level — extends recognition of the athletes' achievement to a wide political and regional audience, particularly in Bihar and across the Hindi-speaking belt.
For Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker, visibility from political leaders complements sporting recognition and can influence public interest in shooting as a career path for young athletes across India.
What's Next
Indian pistol shooters are expected to continue competing across the ISSF World Cup circuit, with results feeding into qualification pathways for the next Olympic cycle. Strong performances at events like this reinforce India's standing in the global shooting rankings and build competitive depth in the squad.
The sustained success of athletes like Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh will be closely watched as the national shooting programme looks to consolidate its medal prospects on the biggest stages.
Point of View
Consistent political attention to shooting's medal-winners reflects how the discipline has grown from a niche pursuit to a mainstream marker of Indian sporting ambition. As the next Olympic cycle approaches, such visibility from political figures can also translate into institutional support and funding conversations for the sport.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the ISSF World Cup women's 25-metre pistol event?
Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup, as congratulated by former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on 27 July 2026.
What medal did Manu Bhaker win at the ISSF World Cup 2026?
Manu Bhaker won the bronze medal in the women's 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup, according to Nitish Kumar's congratulatory post on X.
Why did Nitish Kumar congratulate Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker?
Nitish Kumar congratulated both shooters for their gold and bronze medal performances in the ISSF World Cup women's 25-metre pistol event, saying they had enhanced India's glory on the world stage.
What is the ISSF World Cup?
The ISSF World Cup is the premier annual international shooting competition organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation, the global governing body for the sport, held across multiple disciplines including pistol, rifle, and shotgun events.
