Esha Singh leads India to team gold as Manu Bhaker joins her in final at ISSF Worlds

Esha Singh (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India enjoyed a memorable day at the ISSF World Championships on Tuesday as Esha Singh spearheaded the country's charge to the women's 25m pistol team gold, while also qualifying for the individual final alongside double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker.Esha, one of India's leading pistol shooters, topped the Indian trio in the two-day qualification round with a score of 590. Manu contributed 587 and Divya Subbaraju added 584 as India aggregated 1761 to clinch the gold medal.

South Korea finished second with 1748 to take silver, while Vietnam claimed bronze with a total of 1745.The team triumph was complemented by Esha and Manu securing places in the individual final, giving India a double chance to fight for another medal and a quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Esha's strong comeback powers India

The 21-year-old Esha finished third in the individual qualification standings with 590, behind Germany's Doreen Vennekamp, who topped the field with 592 to equal the Olympic record, and Hungary's Veronika Major, who shot 591.Esha produced an impressive recovery in Tuesday's Rapid round after managing 292 in Monday's Precision round. She shot series of 100, 98 and 100 to register 298 in the Rapid round and finish with an overall score of 590.

Manu also bounced back after a modest 289 in the Precision round. The two-time Olympic medallist put together a series of 99, 99 and 100 in the Rapid round to finish sixth with 587 and secure her place among the eight finalists.Divya, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on the individual final, finishing 10th in the qualification standings with 584.

India eye another Olympic quota place

The individual final presents India with an opportunity to add to its tally of Olympic quota places.

The three medallists in the event will secure quota places for their respective countries, meaning India could potentially claim two if both Esha and Manu finish on the podium.Jaypal Malviya has already opened India's account in the Olympic qualification race at the championships. He won silver in the men's 10m air pistol to become the country's first shooter to secure a quota place for the Los Angeles Games at the event.The women's 25m pistol team gold and the presence of two Indian shooters in the individual final provide a significant boost to India's campaign.