Aichi-Nagoya, 28 September (H.S.): India’s Esha Singh won the silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the Asian Games 2026. In a thrilling final on Monday, Esha finished level with China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan on 38 points, but narrowly fell short in the second shoot-off to settle for silver. North Korea’s Kim Hyon-suk won the bronze medal with 34 points.

Esha made an excellent start to the final, hitting all five targets in the opening series to take the early lead. She followed it up with four hits in the second series and remained at the top after 10 shots.

A three-hit series then saw Esha slip to second place, while Xiao moved ahead with 13 points. Esha responded strongly in the next series, registering four hits to draw level with Xiao at 16 points after 20 shots.

After 25 shots, Esha and Xiao were tied at 20 points, while Kim had also moved into contention at the top. However, Esha dropped to third after the following series. She then mounted a comeback with a crucial five-hit series to put herself firmly in medal contention.

After 40 shots, Xiao and Kim were tied on 32 points, while Esha had 31. The silver and bronze medals were subsequently decided through a shoot-off. Esha and Kim recorded three hits each in the opening two shoot-off series. In the decisive shoot-off, Esha hit three targets while Kim managed only two. Esha therefore secured at least the silver medal.

The gold medal was then decided in a shoot-off between Esha and Xiao. With both shooters tied at 38 points after the regular final and the first shoot-off, another decisive five-shot shoot-off was held. Xiao hit three targets, while Esha managed two. Xiao consequently claimed the gold medal, with Esha taking silver.

With this medal, India’s medal tally at the Asian Games has risen to 39. India’s haul now stands at four gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze medals.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar