“ISSF World Cup 2025 Buenos Aires: Esha Singh Shines with Silver in 25m Pistol, Manu Bhaker Fades to Sixth”
Argentina/Patiala, 06 April (Sports Desk)
The ISSF World Cup 2025 kicked off in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 5, 2025, with India’s Esha Singh claiming a silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol event, while double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker struggled to a sixth-place finish in a rollercoaster day for Indian shooting.
Esha Singh’s Silver Triumph
Esha Singh, one-half of the reigning 10m pistol mixed team world champions, delivered a stellar performance in the eight-woman final, scoring 35 hits to secure the silver medal—her first at an ISSF World Cup. The 20-year-old finished just behind China’s Sun Yujie, who clinched gold with 38 hits after the 10th and final five-shot series. China’s Feng Sixuan rounded out the podium with 30 hits across nine series, taking bronze. Esha’s composure under pressure marked her as a rising star, adding to her individual silvers from the 10m and 25m pistol events at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Manu Bhaker’s Disappointing Outing
In contrast, Manu Bhaker, India’s double Olympic medallist, couldn’t replicate her usual magic. After a strong qualification round where she scored 585 to finish third, Bhaker faltered in the final. She managed only 20 hits and lost a shoot-off to Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp after the fifth series, settling for sixth place. The result was a rare off-day for the 23-year-old, who has been a consistent medal contender on the global stage.
Qualification Recap
In the qualifiers, Manu Bhaker topped the Indian contingent with 585, securing third place, while Esha Singh scored 579 to finish ninth. With two of the top eight shooters competing for Ranking Points Only (RPO), Esha squeezed into the final. Simranpreet Kaur Brar, with a score of 576, finished 13th and missed the cut.
watch…..Manu Bhaker Leads India’s Charge at ISSF World Cup 2025 in Buenos Aires
Medal Haul Continues for India
Esha’s silver was India’s third medal at the season-opening ISSF World Cup, following Sift Kaur Samra’s gold in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event and Chain Singh’s bronze in the men’s 50m 3P on the previous day, Friday. The trio’s success underscored India’s growing dominance in rifle and pistol disciplines.
Shotgun Disappointment
While the pistol and rifle shooters shone, India’s shotgun contingent drew a blank in the skeet events. In the women’s skeet, Raiza Dhillon led the Indian effort with 116, finishing 11th—just five shy of the top six who advanced to the final. Ganemat Sekhon (114) and Darshna Rathore (112) placed 14th and 17th, respectively, unable to break into the medal round.
In the men’s skeet, Anantjeet Singh Naruka topped India’s prelims with 116, finishing 20th. Bhavtegh Gill matched Naruka’s 116 but placed 21st after a countback, while Gurjoat Khangura scored 115 for 22nd. None of the Indian men breached the top six, leaving the skeet events medal-less for the country.
Key Highlights
- Esha’s Breakthrough: Her 35-hit final performance marked a career milestone, reinforcing her reputation after Asian Games success.
- Manu’s Misstep: A rare sixth-place finish in the final after a strong qualification hinted at the unpredictability of shooting under pressure.
- China’s Dominance: Sun Yujie and Feng Sixuan’s gold and bronze ensured China’s strong showing in the event.
Looking Ahead
Esha Singh’s silver added sparkle to India’s campaign at the ISSF World Cup 2025 Buenos Aires, while Manu Bhaker’s off-day served as a reminder of the sport’s fine margins. With three medals already in the bag, India’s shooters will aim to build on this momentum as the tournament progresses, though the shotgun squad will look to regroup after a quiet outing.
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