She has shattered a world record, bagged two ISSF World Cup golds, and officially become Hyderabad’s new shooting star — all at just 21. Esha Singh has learned to embrace the weight of expectations. “The pressure is on another level because you’re representing your country, but I feel grateful for the opportunity, and it motivates me to give my best,” says the shooter when asked to sum up her staggering season. As she prepares for the Asian Games and the season-ending World Cup Final, Esha sat down for an exclusive chat with Hyderabad Times to discuss her remarkable journey from Gachibowli Stadium to the global stage.
Medals won in 2026: Dominating the ISSF World Cup circuitGold: Women’s 25m Pistol (World Record) – May (Munich)Silver: Women’s 10m Air Pistol – May (Munich)Gold: Women’s 25m Pistol – July (Hangzhou)
‘Hard work behind the scenes is paying off; but I’m not done yet’Esha’s 2026 campaign has been defined by consistency, confidence and record-breaking performances. Her world-record score of 43/50 in the women’s 25m pistol final in Munich — the senior and junior world record — has been one of the standout moments of the season. Yet, she believes there is still plenty left to achieve. “I’m really happy with how the season has gone so far. We worked on a few technical aspects during training, and it’s satisfying to see those changes paying off in competition. Every tournament has helped me become more confident and consistent, but the season isn’t over yet. My focus is now on the upcoming Asian Games and finishing the year strongly at the ISSF World Cup Final in Rome this December,” she says.
Representing India at the Paris Olympics gave Esha a clearer understanding of what it takes to compete at the sport’s biggest stage. “The Olympics are the highest level an athlete can compete at. I came very close to making the final, learned a lot, and now I know what it takes to perform on that stage. I’m confident that experience will help me in the next Olympic cycle,” she says.
I may look calm before and during a match, but there’s a lot going on in my mind. I know I’m carrying the expectations of an entire nation, and instead of letting that pressure affect me, I use it as motivation
Esha Singh
In 2018, aged just 13, Esha became the youngest senior national champion in the women’s 10m air pistol event
‘I initially wanted to try shotgun, but fell in love with the pistol’Esha’s shooting journey began by chance in 2014, when a visit to the Gachibowli Stadium’s Shooting Range ignited a passion that took her to the Olympic stage. “One of my father’s friends, a prominent shotgun shooter from the city, invited us to the range. I went along, watched people shooting, and immediately wanted to try it myself,” she recalls.Finding her discipline took some trial and error. “I initially wanted to try shotgun, but it was too heavy for me. Then I tried a rifle, but the pistol felt right and the most comfortable. The plan was to switch to another discipline later, but I fell in love with pistol shooting,” she explains.At that time, there weren’t any academies in Hyderabad, so she spent a week in Pune learning the basics under coach Hiren Jaiswal. “My father then set up a ten metre practice range at our house. Since all you need is ten metres and open space, I began training there every evening. Soon after, I competed in the state championship and won the gold medal,” she says.
Esha clinched gold in the women’s 25m pistol event at last week’s ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, finishing ahead of China’s Zhang Yueyue, while India’s Manu Bhaker claimed the bronze medal
There’s a lot of mutual respect among all of us. Me & Manu (Bhaker) have been in the team for almost eight years and we have healthy competition, but at the end of the day, shooting is an individual sport — it’s always you versus yourself. As we’ve grown in the sport, that understanding has only become stronger
Esha Singh
‘I train for six hours every day, up to six times a week’Over the next decade, that childhood curiosity transformed into one of India’s brightest shooting careers. From winning four medals at the 2022 Asian Games and representing India at the Paris Olympics, to enjoying a breakthrough 2026 season, staying on top requires unwavering discipline. “I train five to six days a week. Since I compete in both the 10m and 25m pistol events, I spend around six hours a day at training,” she shares. Her preparation varies with every tournament based on travel, recovery, and competition schedules. “Sometimes we have five consecutive days of competition, so training intensity has to be adjusted accordingly. There’s no fixed formula,” she explains. Mental conditioning is equally important for her. “I focus on breathing exercises too. For me, it’s controlled breathing for about 15 to 20 minutes before training. It helps me settle,” she adds.
‘My father is the reason I got into sports’Long before she became a shooter, Esha grew up watching her father’s passion for rally driving and off-road motorsports. Her father, who also owns a sports shop in MG Road, Secunderabad, has long been an avid rally driver. “He’s a rally driver, so it’s all about off-roading vehicles like Jeeps and Gypsies. He loves taking part in adventure rallies and road trips,” she says. Inspired by his love for sport, Esha credits her father for introducing her to the sporting world. “He’s the reason I got into sports. He encouraged me to try different sports because he believed they teach discipline and resilience. He never forced me into one sport, but he always wanted me to play one. Today, he’s my biggest support system, both on and off the range,” she adds.— Biswajit Talukdar
