Pistol shooter Esha Singh claimed the gold medal at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol leg in Munich on 29 May, setting a world record score of 43 in the women's 25m pistol final at the iconic Olympic Shooting Range. The 21-year-old Indian, already a three-time world championship medallist and double Asian Games medallist, delivered what many are calling a career-defining performance on the global stage.

A Record-Breaking Final

Esha came out of the blocks firing, recording perfect fives in three consecutive opening series to establish an early lead over the field of eight. Germany's home favourite and former world champion Doreen Vennekamp was her closest challenger but could not keep pace, ultimately finishing a full five hits behind the Indian. Vietnam's Trinh Thu Vinh was third after the early stages.

Esha missed just one shot in the fourth series — the first elimination round — yet remained four clear of Vennekamp. She followed with perfect fives in the sixth and eighth series as the world record came into view. She closed with a four and a three to finish on 43, surpassing the previous mark of 42 set by South Korea's Kim Yeji in Baku two years ago. The score also eclipsed the junior world record of 41 held by Yang Jiin.

Sindhu Calls Her an 'Absolute Killer'

Ace shuttler and Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was among the first prominent athletes to publicly celebrate the feat. In a post on X, Sindhu wrote: 'I have known of Esha and heard wonderful things about her for many years now. She trains in Hyderabad, has been supported by OGQ, who have also been my partners for the longest time... I have always heard the same thing about her. Calm, quiet, doesn't say much, but an absolute killer when it matters. Incredible to see her break the world record and win gold on the world stage. Esha, the sky is the limit, my friend.'

Sindhu noted that both athletes share ties to the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) support programme and were at one point represented by a common agency, underscoring the close-knit ecosystem behind India's elite sporting talent.

Dhawan Also Joins the Chorus

Former India cricket opener Shikhar Dhawan also took to X to congratulate Esha, writing: 'Another young Indian athlete shining on the global stage. What an incredible achievement by Esha Singh at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. The future of Indian shooting looks very bright.'

What This Means for Indian Shooting

This is the second ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol leg of the year, and Esha's gold underlines India's growing depth in the shooting disciplines. Notably, she is only 21 and already holds multiple international medals across age-group and senior categories. This comes amid a broader surge in Indian shooting performance on the world circuit, with the country consistently producing top-ranked athletes in pistol and rifle events. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, Esha's trajectory makes her one of India's most compelling medal prospects.