28 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Indian shooter Esha Singh kept India’s medal hopes alive at the Asian Games 2026 by qualifying for the women’s 25m pistol final, while the Indian team missed out on a medal in the team event.
India slipped to fifth place in the women’s 25m pistol team event after starting strongly in the competition.
Esha Singh Makes Final
Esha Singh advanced to the final eight in the individual 25m pistol competition.
Her qualification means India still has a chance to secure a medal from the event despite the team’s disappointment earlier in the day.
India Finishes Fifth in Team Event
India had begun the women’s 25m pistol team competition strongly and was just one point behind China after the precision stage.
However, the Indian team slipped to fifth position by the end of the event and missed out on a medal.
Rahi Sarnobat’s Score Affects Team Result
The Indian team’s hopes were hurt by Rahi Sarnobat’s score of 568.
The result contributed to India’s slide in the team standings, turning what had been a promising position after the precision stage into a fifth-place finish.
Manu Bhaker Misses Individual Final
Two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker also missed out on the individual 25m pistol final, finishing 11th.
Her result followed a fifth-place finish in the 10m air pistol event, leaving her without an individual medal at these Asian Games.
Esha Keeps India’s Medal Hopes Alive
With Esha Singh advancing to the final, India remains represented in the event’s medal round.
Her qualification provides another opportunity for the Indian shooting contingent after the team narrowly missed out on the podium.
Strong Start Fades
India’s performance illustrates how quickly shooting team-event standings can change.
A strong precision-stage position put the Indian shooters close to the leaders, but the subsequent performance was not enough to maintain a podium position.
Busy Day for Indian Shooters
The 25m pistol competition was part of a packed day for the Indian contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Indian athletes were competing across shooting, athletics, cricket, boxing, squash and other disciplines, creating several medal and qualification opportunities throughout the day.
Focus Now Turns to the Final
Esha Singh’s qualification shifts the focus towards the individual final.
The Indian shooter will now look to convert her qualification into a podium finish and provide India with another opportunity in shooting after the team event ended without a medal.
India’s Shooting Campaign Continues
Shooting remains one of the sports in which India has traditionally looked for medals at major multi-sport events.
The 25m pistol results provide a mixed picture: India missed the team podium, while Esha Singh’s qualification ensures the country’s challenge continues in the individual final.