Esha Singh won the silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol individual event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 28. The 21-year-old Indian shooter finished the final with 38 points and narrowly missed the gold medal after losing the final shoot-off to China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan by 3-2. The result added another shooting medal to India’s campaign at the Games.

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Esha Singh Produces a Strong Final

Esha Singh entered the eight-shooter final after finishing eighth in the qualification round. She recorded 580 points with 22 inner tens, a score that secured her place in the medal round.

Her position at the start of the final meant she had to fight through several elimination stages. The competition remained close as shooters battled for the medal positions, with Esha continuing to stay in contention despite starting the final at the bottom of the qualifying list.

She eventually reached the gold-medal shoot-off against Xiao Jiaruixuan. After two shoot-off series, the Chinese shooter won 3-2, leaving Esha with the silver medal.

How the 25m Pistol Event Works

The women’s 25m pistol is one of the precision shooting events governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). The competition combines accuracy and speed and is divided into qualification and final stages.

During qualification, athletes compete in precision and rapid-fire stages. Their scores determine the shooters who advance to the final. The final then uses a hit-based scoring system and elimination format, with athletes leaving the competition as the medal positions are decided.

When shooters are tied at important stages, shoot-offs can be used to separate them. Esha Singh had to go through multiple close situations during the Aichi-Nagoya final before reaching the gold-medal shoot-off.

Gold Medal Goes to China

China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan won the gold medal after defeating Esha in the final shoot-off. The two shooters were closely matched, but Xiao finished ahead by a 3-2 score across the decisive shoot-off series.

Esha’s silver medal continued India’s strong presence in shooting at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Shooting has produced medals for India across pistol, rifle and shotgun competitions during the Games.

The result also showed how quickly medal positions can change in the final stages of the 25m pistol event, where a small difference in the shoot-off can decide the gold medal.

Esha Singh’s Asian Games Journey

Esha Singh has already enjoyed success at the Asian Games. At the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, she won silver in the women’s 25m pistol individual competition. She was also part of India’s gold-medal winning team in the team event.

Her latest silver in Aichi-Nagoya gives her another individual Asian Games medal in the same discipline.

The 21-year-old shooter has also competed successfully at world-level events and has established herself as one of India’s leading pistol shooters. Her performances in international competitions have included medals in both individual and team events.

India’s Shooting Campaign in Aichi-Nagoya

Esha Singh’s medal came during a busy shooting programme at the 2026 Asian Games. Indian shooters have competed across rifle, pistol and shotgun events, with several athletes reaching medal rounds.

The shooting programme has included individual and team competitions, giving athletes multiple opportunities to compete for medals. India’s campaign has featured experienced shooters alongside younger athletes, reflecting the country’s growing depth across different shooting disciplines.

Esha’s performance was particularly notable because she reached the silver medal position after entering the final in eighth place. Her ability to move through the elimination stages kept her in medal contention until the final shoot-off.

A Close Gold-Medal Battle

The final stages of the women’s 25m pistol competition provided one of the closest finishes for India’s shooting team at the Games. Esha Singh finished with 38 points and then faced Xiao Jiaruixuan for gold.

The 3-2 shoot-off result meant the difference between gold and silver came down to a very small margin. Esha returned from a difficult starting position in the final to secure the silver medal, adding another important result to her Asian Games record.

With more shooting events continuing in Aichi-Nagoya, India’s shooters remain involved across several disciplines as the Games enter their final stages.