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NEW DELHI: Esha Singh struck gold for India at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou on Monday, winning the women’s 25m pistol title in a commanding display, while two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker added a bronze to complete a memorable outing for the country.The victory marked India’s first gold medal of the ongoing World Cup and further strengthened its campaign in Hangzhou. Esha, who set the world record in the event earlier this year, lived up to her billing by topping the podium with a score of 40 out of 50 in the final.The 21-year-old stayed in control throughout the contest, finishing three points clear of China’s Yueyue Zhang, who claimed silver with 37. Esha consistently found her rhythm across both stages of the final before pulling away in the elimination rounds to seal an emphatic win.Manu Bhaker also returned to the podium after securing bronze in the same event. The Indian shooter edged past North Korea’s Hyon Gyong Pak in a tense double shoot-off to finish third with 28 points, ensuring India had two medal winners in the women’s 25m pistol competition.Esha’s latest triumph continues an impressive season for the Hyderabad shooter, who rewrote the world record during the ISSF World Cup in Munich earlier this year. She has now added another major international title to her growing list of achievements.The double podium finish also boosted India’s overall medal tally in Hangzhou to three. Earlier in the competition, Sainyam had won silver in the women’s 10m air pistol event.With Esha’s gold and the two silver and bronze medals, India climbed to second place in the medal standings, behind hosts China, who continue to lead the table with 14 medals, including six gold.
