Indian shooter Manu Bhaker added another international medal to her tally on Monday, clinching bronze in the Women’s 25m Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, China. Bhaker said she had “mixed feelings” about the result, noting that while she was pleased to see improvement in her performance, she felt she could have done better.
The medal also carried added significance for India as it completed a double-podium finish in the event, with fellow Indian pistol ace Esha Singh delivering a commanding final to take gold. The one-two presence on the podium underlined India’s strong run at the competition and highlighted the depth in the women’s pistol squad.
Bhaker reflects on bronze as India lands double podium
Bhaker shared her reaction in a post on X, describing the bronze as both encouraging and motivating. “Another bronze. I have mixed feelings about this one. I’m happy that I was able to improve my performance, but at the same time, I know I could have done better,” she wrote.
She added that the improvement was a sign her work was translating into results, while also stressing that she sees room to grow. “What makes me happy is seeing that the hard work is showing. There’s still plenty of room for improvement, and that’s what keeps me motivated. One step at a time,” Bhaker said.
Bhaker also credited her support system, thanking her team, family and fans for backing her through the journey. “Major thanks to my team, my family, and each one of you for the unwavering love and support, it means the world to me,” she added.
In the final itself, Esha Singh produced a decisive performance, registering 40 hits to secure the gold medal. Bhaker, meanwhile, navigated what was described as a tense and highly competitive field, winning a crucial shoot-off before finishing with 28 hits to claim bronze, according to a press release from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
Qualification scores set the tone for the final
India’s strong showing was established early in qualification, where Bhaker topped the standings with a score of 586-20x. Esha followed closely in second with 585-18x, and both advanced comfortably to the eight-shooter final.
Former Asian Games gold medallist Rahi Sarnobat posted 582-16x in qualification. Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576-20x) and Abhidnya Ashok Patil (573-16x) also turned in steady efforts while competing under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status.
Esha Singh’s gold adds to a standout season
For Esha Singh, the Hangzhou gold was another major marker in a season that has already featured record-setting performances. The 21-year-old from Hyderabad had earlier created history at the ISSF World Cup in Munich by setting both senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final. The Hangzhou result further reinforced her position among the leading names in the discipline.
Bhaker’s bronze, meanwhile, continued her run of consistency on the global stage following her Paris 2024 Olympic campaign, where she became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single edition of the Games. In Hangzhou, she framed the latest medal as both a reward for work done and a reminder of the standards she is chasing, signalling that she remains focused on incremental progress.
