“Call it God’s grace”: Esha Singh clinches Silver in dramatic final
Indian shooter Esha Singh claims silver at the 2026 Asian Games after a dramatic shoot-off battle in the women's 25m pistol final.
Indian sharpshooter Esha Singh has secured a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the 2026 Asian Games, following a high-stakes battle that pushed her to the absolute limit. In a final defined by intense pressure and unexpected technical delays, Singh emerged as one of the top performers in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
A battle of nerves and shoot-offs
The final was nothing short of a rollercoaster for the Indian shooter. After the regular rounds, Esha Singh finished with 38 points, placing her in a dead heat with China's Xiao Jiaruixian. The competition then moved into a series of grueling shoot-offs to decide the podium spots.
The path to the silver medal involved several critical stages:
- First Shoot-off: Singh successfully overcame North Korea's Kim Hyon Suk to secure her place in the medal contention.
- Gold Medal Shoot-off: Singh and Xiao Jiaruixian remained tied after the initial shoot-off, necessitating a second five-shot contest.
- The Decider: In the final showdown, Xiao managed to hit three targets, while Singh hit two, leaving the Indian athlete with a hard-earned silver medal.
Technical glitches turned into a blessing
The proceedings were not without controversy, as technical issues caused two separate interruptions during the shoot-off phase. While such breaks can often shatter an athlete's concentration, Singh viewed the situation through a different lens.
Reflecting on the interruptions, Singh revealed that the delays actually aided her physical condition. "In my case, it was very helpful, because my hand was getting unexpectedly tired and very tight towards the match," she explained. "I think if it wasn't for those breaks and those errors that happened... it actually helped me. So, maybe call it God's grace that it was meant to happen."
Celebrating a memorable achievement
Despite the narrow miss for gold, Singh expressed immense gratitude for the experience, noting that the unpredictable nature of the match made it all the more memorable. She remarked that while she had to fight hard for the medal, she ultimately had fun during the intense competition.
As for the celebrations, the "big-time foodie" shooter has a specific plan in mind. Singh shared that she intends to celebrate her silver medal success with a lavish meal alongside her coach, Raunak. "We're going to go for a really good meal—me and my coach, Raunak sir. We are big-time foodies," she added with a smile.