Esha Singh wins Asian Games silver in women's 25m pistol after record five shoot-offs
Synopsis
World number one shooter Esha Singh came within a single shot of Asian Games gold in what is reportedly the first-ever five shoot-off final in the history of the 25m sports pistol event. The 21-year-old Hyderabad athlete's silver is as much a story of physical endurance — she fired nearly 25 extra shots — as it is of medal-winning skill.
Key Takeaways
Esha Singh , aged 21 , won silver in the women's 25m pistol individual event at the Asian Games in Japan .
The final reportedly featured five shoot-offs — said to be the first time in Asian Games history for this discipline.
Singh missed gold by one shot , losing the final clash to China's Xiao Jiaruixuan .
Her father Sachin Singh noted she fired almost 25 more shots than a standard final, taking a toll on her body.
Telangana Chief Minister A.
Revanth Reddy congratulated Singh on 28 September , calling her performance an inspiration to the sports world.
Indian shooter Esha Singh of Hyderabad claimed the silver medal in the women's 25m pistol individual event at the ongoing Asian Games in Japan, producing a remarkable display that included a historic five shoot-offs in the final. The 21-year-old world number one narrowly missed gold by a single shot against China's Xiao Jiaruixuan.
A Final for the History Books
Esha Singh battled through an extraordinary final that reportedly marks the first time in Asian Games history that five shoot-offs were held in a 25m sports pistol final. She won three consecutive shoot-offs to rise into medal contention before facing two more in the gold medal clash. In the end, one shot separated her from the top of the podium.
Her father, Sachin Singh, noted that she had fired almost 25 more shots than a standard final demands — a physical toll that made the achievement all the more remarkable. He added that China's opponent was comparatively more composed, making the contest extremely tight till the final trigger pull.
Singh's Own Words
'I am really happy with the way everything went. I'm so grateful for this medal, I'm so grateful for the whole experience that I went through,' Esha Singh said after the event. Her composure under sustained pressure across multiple shoot-offs drew widespread admiration from the shooting community.
Telangana CM Offers Congratulations
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday, 28 September congratulated Singh on the achievement, praising her for handling the pressure of five shoot-offs with bravery. He said her fighting spirit had inspired the sports world and expressed confidence that she would bring many more laurels to both India and Telangana on international stages.
Context and What's Next
This comes as India continues to build its reputation in shooting disciplines at major multi-sport events. As the reigning world number one in her discipline, Esha Singh had entered the competition as a strong medal favourite, and the silver reinforces her standing at the top of global rankings. The shooting community will now watch her next competitive outings closely as she targets further podiums on the international circuit.
Point of View
But the five-shoot-off narrative risks overshadowing a structural question: India's shooting programme continues to produce world-ranked talents who peak at near-gold and come home with silver. The difference between gold and silver here was one shot across a gruelling 25-extra-shot marathon — a mental and physical frontier that training infrastructure must now address. Singh's world number one ranking makes her a Paris 2028 projection; how India's high-performance system manages her preparation load between now and then will matter as much as raw talent.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Esha Singh win at the Asian Games?
Esha Singh won the silver medal in the women's 25m pistol individual event at the Asian Games in Japan. She missed the gold medal by a single shot against China's Xiao Jiaruixuan after a final that featured five shoot-offs.
Why was the Asian Games 25m pistol final historic?
According to Esha Singh's father Sachin Singh, the final was reportedly the first time in Asian Games history that five shoot-offs were held in a 25m sports pistol final. Singh fired almost 25 more shots than a standard final would require.
Who congratulated Esha Singh after her silver medal?
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy congratulated Singh on Monday, 28 September, praising her bravery in handling the pressure of five shoot-offs and expressing hope for more international victories.
What is Esha Singh's current world ranking?
Esha Singh is the reigning world number one in her discipline. Her Asian Games silver further consolidates her standing at the top of global shooting rankings.
How did the gold medal shoot-off play out?
Esha Singh won three of the five shoot-offs to rise into medal contention, but was unable to overcome China's Xiao Jiaruixuan in the final two. The outcome was decided by a single shot, with Sachin Singh noting that nobody knew the winner until the very last trigger pull.
