Rijiju Hails Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker at ISSF World Cup
Synopsis
Esha Singh claimed gold and Manu Bhaker bronze in the Women's 25m Sports Pistol event at the 2026 ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hailed the results as a proud day for Indian shooting, as both athletes bolster their profiles ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Key Takeaways
Esha Singh won gold in the Women's 25m Sports Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup, Hangzhou .
Manu Bhaker secured bronze in the same event, continuing her record of international podium finishes.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly congratulated both athletes on July 27, 2026 .
The results strengthen India's position in ISSF rankings ahead of 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification.
India's shooting programme has been supported by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) since 2014 .
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday, July 27, 2026, congratulated Indian shooters Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker after the pair claimed gold and bronze respectively in the Women's 25m Sports Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China.
Context
Rijiju, posting on X, wrote: 'A proud day for Indian shooting! Heartiest congratulations to Esha Singh on winning Gold and Manu Bhaker on securing Bronze in the Women's 25m Sports Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou. Your outstanding performances have made the nation proud. Keep aiming higher!'
The result marks another international podium finish for Indian pistol shooting, a discipline that has delivered consistent top-three results at ISSF World Cup stages over the past decade. Esha Singh competes at the elite level in pistol events, while Manu Bhaker is among India's most decorated pistol shooters, holding multiple Olympic and World Cup medals.
Policy Backdrop
India's sustained rise in shooting sports is closely linked to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, which provides elite athletes with targeted financial support, foreign training exposure, and specialised coaching. Pistol events have been among the primary beneficiaries of this investment.
Rijiju himself served as Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in a previous tenure, making his engagement with sporting achievements more than ceremonial — he has been a consistent institutional voice for athlete welfare and infrastructure development in Indian sport.
Stakeholders and Impact
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), the global governing body for the discipline, organises a circuit of World Cup stages each year that double as qualification and ranking events. A gold and a bronze in a single event represent a strong team showing for India and reinforce the country's standing in the ISSF rankings.
For Esha Singh, the gold adds to her growing international profile. For Manu Bhaker, the bronze continues a pattern of podium consistency that has made her one of India's most recognised names in individual sport. Both results carry significance for Olympic qualification pathways ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
What's Next
India's shooting contingent will be closely watched through the remaining 2026 ISSF World Cup stages as athletes accumulate ranking points and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Strong performances at this stage of the cycle are critical for securing quota places well in advance of the Games.
The government's continued backing through TOPS and the national federation's training infrastructure will be key factors in sustaining this momentum across all shooting disciplines.
Point of View
But Rijiju's engagement carries added weight given his prior tenure as Sports Minister — it signals continuity of political attention to a discipline that has become one of India's most reliable medal sources. The Women's 25m Sports Pistol result, with both a gold and a bronze, is a particularly strong team showing and underlines how depth, not just individual brilliance, is now a feature of Indian pistol shooting. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification cycle underway, results like these feed directly into quota calculations, making them strategically significant beyond the headline. The government's sustained investment through TOPS appears to be compounding returns across successive World Cup cycles.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the Women's 25m Sports Pistol at the ISSF World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou?
Esha Singh won gold in the Women's 25m Sports Pistol event at the 2026 ISSF World Cup held in Hangzhou, China .
What medal did Manu Bhaker win at the Hangzhou ISSF World Cup 2026?
Manu Bhaker won bronze in the Women's 25m Sports Pistol event at the 2026 ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou .
What is the ISSF World Cup?
The ISSF World Cup is a series of international shooting competitions organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) , the global governing body for shooting sports. Results count towards world rankings and Olympic qualification.
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , launched in 2014 , is an Indian government programme that provides elite athletes with financial support, foreign training, and specialised coaching to help them win Olympic medals.
Why did Kiren Rijiju congratulate Indian shooters?
Kiren Rijiju , Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, congratulated Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker after they won gold and bronze respectively at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou on July 27, 2026 .
