Olympian Esha Singh delivered another scintillating performance on Wednesday at the Asian Shooting Championship 2026, clinching the women’s 10m air pistol gold medal at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi. The 21-year-old not only added a second individual continental title to her resume but also played a key role in India’s strong start to the championship, which has already yielded multiple medals for the hosts.
Commanding gold in a high-quality final
Singh topped a strong final field with an impressive 239.8 points, creating a clear margin over her closest rival Cheng Yen-Ching of Chinese Taipei on 235.4 and Yu Ai-Wen in third. Throughout the 24-shot shoot-off, Singh displayed remarkable control and focus, climbing steadily from a mid-field position early in the final to assert dominance through the latter stages of competition.
Meanwhile, Suruchi Singh started strongly and led early in the competition, but ultimately slipped in the elimination phases to finish fourth, just outside the medals. Manu Bhaker, a multiple international medallist and double bronze medallist at the Paris Olympics, also reached the final but concluded the contest in seventh place.
Esha's victory marks her second individual Asian Championship gold in the same event, reaffirming her status as one of the continent’s leading pistol shooters. Singh had previously won this title at the 2024 Asian Championships in Jakarta, and she continues to build on a strong international résumé that includes multiple World Cup and global podium finishes.
A comeback from earlier setbacks
Singh’s gold was notable not only for the score but for the way she executed it under pressure. After leading early qualification rounds, she found her rhythm late in the final, showcasing mental resilience that has become a trademark of her shooting career. Her performance came on a day when India collected a total of nine medals, including six golds, signalling the country’s ambition to dominate throughout the championship.
Gold in team event as well
Esha Singh was joined by Manu Bhaker and Suruchi Singh in the women’s 10m air pistol team event, where the trio combined to score 1,726 points, a tally that was 13 points superior to Vietnam’s silver-medal total. The collective effort emphasised India’s dominance in the discipline and highlighted the country’s depth in pistol shooting.
Implications for future competition
The Asian Shooting Championship acts as both a continental title fight and a key stepping stone toward global events like the World Championships and Olympic qualification cycles. Singh’s win consolidates her position among the world’s top women’s air pistol shooters. She currently ranks inside the top ten globally in the discipline, and boosts her confidence as major competitions loom on the calendar.
For India, success early in the championship enhances prospects across multiple events, with shooters already showing the depth of talent and competitive maturity required to challenge on the biggest stages. Singh’s composed gold-medal display not only lights up the opening day but sets a high bar for her peers.