Esha Singh Wins Silver After Five Shoot-Offs in Asian Games 2026 Shooting Thriller
AICHI-NAGOYA: Indian shooter Esha Singh won silver in the women’s 25m pistol individual event at the Asian Games 2026 on Monday, September 28, after surviving a series of tense shoot-offs before narrowly missing gold against China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan.
The 21-year-old from Hyderabad finished the final with 38 points, level with Xiao, but lost the deciding shoot-off. The Esha Singh silver medal became India’s latest medal at the Games and added to a strong shooting campaign.
Esha Singh Fights Through A Dramatic Final
The Asian Games 2026 shooting final turned into a prolonged test of composure for Singh.
She entered the final in eighth position after qualifying with 580 points and 22 inner tens. From there, she fought her way back into medal contention, producing a perfect five-hit series when she was in danger of elimination.
Singh then faced North Korea’s Kim Hyon Suk in a series of shoot-offs for the silver and bronze positions. After two tie-breakers ended level, Singh finally prevailed 3-2 in the third shoot-off to secure a place in the gold-medal contest.
The Esha Singh silver was eventually decided against Xiao. Both shooters finished the regulation final on 38 points, forcing another shoot-off. Xiao won the final tie-breaker 3-2 to take gold, leaving Singh with silver.
India’s Shooting Campaign Adds Another Medal
The result gives Singh another individual Asian Games medal in the same event. She also won silver in the women’s 25m pistol at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Her latest performance comes after a disappointing outing in the 10m air pistol event, where she failed to reach the final. The recovery in the 25m pistol competition has now made Singh one of the notable Indian performers in the Asian Games 2026 shooting programme.
India had already collected several medals in shooting before Singh’s result. Earlier in the Games, the country won medals across rifle and pistol events, including individual and team competitions.
The latest India Asian Games medals tally reached 39 by the end of September 28, comprising four gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze medals. Singh’s silver was followed by a bronze for Pincky Balhara in women’s -78kg kurash.
The result adds to a busy Asian Games 2026 campaign for India, which entered the continental event as defending champions in several sports. Earlier coverage of India’s preparations highlighted the country’s Asian Games 2026 campaign and the expectations surrounding its medal challenge.
Xiao Takes Gold As Singh Settles For Silver
Xiao remained composed through the final stages and eventually secured gold after the second shoot-off.
For Singh, the silver continues a strong Asian Games record in the 25m pistol. It also gives India another podium finish in a discipline that has been one of the country’s most productive medal sources at Aichi-Nagoya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Singh for her performance, praising her precision and composure after she secured the silver medal. The PMO India statement confirmed the Prime Minister’s message following the result.
The Esha Singh silver also strengthens the overall India Asian Games medals tally as competition continues in Aichi-Nagoya. With several events still to be decided, India’s medal count remains subject to change as the Games move into their final stages.
