'That attitude never helps anyone grow': Esha Singh on the stiff competition in India's women's pistol shooting field

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3 days ago

Anyone who follows the sport of shooting in India will tell you that the current crop of young female pistol shooters is absolutely top class. Overall, as a group they are a formidable bunch. The competition amongst the ladies is fierce and most of the athletes feel rather fortunate to be part of a group that is consistently performing on the biggest of stages, thereby fuelling healthy competition and rivalry that motivates them to keep improving.
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The likes of Manu Bhaker, Palak Gulia, Esha Singh, Suruchi Phogat – who has had a meteoric rise so far, Rhythm Sangwan and others have ensured that India is continued to be viewed as a force to be reckoned with in international women's pistol shooting and a true shooting powerhouse in the making.
The women's 10m Air Pistol rankings (as of July 23, 2025) have two Indians in the Top 10 currently in Manu Bhaker (2nd with 4608 points) and Suruchi Phogat (4th with 4000 points). Though it's no guaranteed parameter to gauge country domination, China and South Korea – two traditional shooting powerhouses - also have exactly the same number of athletes in this Top 10 ranking – two (China – Jiang Ranxin – 3rd with 4258 points and Yao Qianxun - 9th with 2900 points. And South Korea – OH Ye Jin – 1st with 4620 points and Kim Yeji – 6th with 3500 points).
The women's 25m Air Pistol rankings meanwhile (as of July 23, 2025) also have two Indian shooters in the Top 10 in Manu Bhaker (2nd with 4140 points) and Esha Singh (8th with 2418 points). China and South Korea have one athlete each in these rankings.
20-year-old Esha Singh is the perfect example of the new-age young Indian athlete, who knows the importance of hard work, training, grit and determination, while being completely unfazed by reputation. At the Buenos Aires World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) in April this year, Esha bagged the silver medal, finishing just behind higher ranked (6th in women's 25m pistol) Chinese shooter, Sun Yujie. This achievement needs to be viewed through the lens of improvement for better context and it shows that Esha, who became the youngest Indian National Shooting Champion in 2018, at the age of 13 has grown by leaps and bounds as a shooter in the seven years since that achievement that made everyone sit up and notice her. And she still has a long way to go.
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A product of Olympic medallist, Gagan Narang's Academy in Hyderabad – 'Gun for Glory', Esha is a confident, extremely articulate, intelligent and of course massively talented athlete – the perfect reflection, in many ways, of the Indian athlete of 2025.
In a comprehensive exclusive interview with Firstpost, where she talked about topics ranging from her first Olympic appearance in Paris last year to the silver in Argentina this year, to how she is preparing for the next edition of the Asian Games next year, the stiff competition amongst the young ladies in India's 10m and 25m pistol shooting team, the roles that the NRAI played after the massive medal drought in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics in 2016 and 2021 and much more…
Excerpts from the exclusive interview with Indian shooter Esha Singh…
Let's go back to the very beginning. A far as sport is concerned, that's in your blood. Your father was a National level Rally driver and has been your biggest support system, along with other family members and coaches, I'm sure. Were you quite sure from a very young age that you would pursue sport and then you honed in on pistol shooting? How did the whole journey begin?
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No, not at all. I just took it up as a hobby because I found it quite interesting and a very unique sport. I didn't know anyone who was into this sport so I thought I'll just pick it up and play once in a while, once or twice a week, maybe on the weekends. I don't think anybody thought that I would take it up so seriously. I think I got serious about it and knew that I can do it when I won my first ever medal, which was, I think, in a State Championship. I think I was 10 years old and it made me think – 'okay, this is something I'm good at, I can do this.' So that's how I picked it up.
If I can quickly jump to the present now - you had a good start to the 2025 season, a silver in the Argentina World Cup in the 25-metre event. In that World Cup, in Buenos Aires, you went down to number seven in the first series in the final and then recovered to go on to win silver, just behind China's Sun Yujie. Now, shooting of course is more of a mental sport than a physical one. What was going through your mind after that first series when you fell down to number seven? How did you pull yourself together and managed to focus again?
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In the finals, it's quite important that you have a good start and I obviously wanted a good start. But when things don't go well, you can't do much about it. I think if I had focussed on worrying, then that would have really messed up my game. So, what I did was I just followed the same thing that I was doing (earlier) again because it's a process. You have a number of things to do and you are human. At times it doesn't go well and it's not always your fault. But if sometimes I do understand what is happening, because you're under so much of anxiety and pressure and there are so many things in your head, even though you want to do it perfectly, it doesn't happen, because that's your body's natural response. But if I do figure it out, If I'm lucky enough to figure it out very quickly, then I will incorporate that and do it right again. In shooting, we have groupings, like in the 25 metres event, it's five shots at a time. Now, suppose I feel it was all on top (of the target) and I missed by like a decimal (point), I probably give a few clicks and I manage it and do the same thing again. I don't change anything. Of course, I will have pressure, but I keep telling myself that this is a simple game and I just need to focus on the basics.
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This was also your first individual World Cup medal in the 25m pistol event and you won it at the age of 20. Would it be fair to say that a big psychological box has been ticked in your mind?
I would say, yes, it was a big win for me, and it being my favourite among the two events (10m and 25m pistol), I was quite happy I did well, because the 20m final is quite difficult. It's all about synchronising and it's something very different from the 10m event. It (25m pistol) is a fast-paced game, you have absolutely no time to do any corrections. It's all over in a matter of seconds. So, I was happy I could put all the things together and it worked out pretty well. But at the same time, I keep reminding myself that no matter how big a win is, I do have matches coming up and all I have to do is just play my own game. It doesn't matter if I am a medallist here (or not) or somewhere else. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how you perform in a game.
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Now, there are various kinds of shooters. There are shooters who never think about who else is there in the mix while they're competing at an event. And then there are others who are aware of exactly who they are up against and what their reputations are, etc… In Argentina, you were up against the likes of Manu and also Veronika Major, who won bronze in the Paris Olympics in this event, the 25-metre pistol. What kind of shooter are you? Are you wary of reputation or does it not sway you at all?
I'm quite aware of all of them (other reputed shooters). We have (all) been shooting for so many years, it's almost the same names that you see (in various competitions). But even though I might be aware (of someone else's reputation), I don't change anything based on who is standing beside me. I remind myself that it's quite simple - all I have to do is, go back to the basics and just repeat it (in) every shot.
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Again, coming back to this year in particular – a year before the next edition of the Asian Games - what are your big plans, in terms of both focus and training, for this particular year? The Asian Shooting Championship of course is coming up in August, in Kazakhstan and also with the next Olympic cycle beginning, what are Esha Singh's big plans for the rest of 2025?
Yes, we do have the Asian Championship, as you mentioned. Then we have the World Championship coming up in Egypt at the end of the year. So, we do have some pretty big competitions lined up, but also this being one of the first ones for the Olympic cycle, I think I'm using this year to gear up for 2026 - for the Asian Games. Then we have the four-year World Championship (in Cairo). It's the quota match (Forty-eight 2028 Olympic quota places up for grabs, four each in the 12 individual rifle, pistol and shotgun events), so I am using this year as much as possible. I am trying to learn more about myself, about my game, how I'm executing (plans) and what the changes are that I need to make. So, I would say this is a year (in which) I am putting everything in place.
You mentioned the next edition of the Asian games. The last edition (2022) saw you win four medals at the age of 18. Around that time, you also became the 25-metre junior World champion in Cairo. So, that phase overall, say 2021 to 2023 was a very good one for you. Talk to me a little bit about the growth that you observed in yourself mentally, as well as psychologically at that time, as a shooter. Was that, in many ways, one of the biggest growth-spurts you experienced as an athlete?
I definitely grew as an athlete (in that phase). I tried to become a better shooter every year. But as I was playing and as I was improving, I'm (also) grateful that I never experienced a downfall or a setback. Instead, I kept growing and growing. I gave it (my) all. I gave my best every day and the bigger the competitions, the bigger titles I won. It does add to the prestige, but at the same time when you go through that level of pressure, you game matures much more, you understand yourself better the more games you play, because you've reached the highest level, like the Olympic trials, the Olympics. So, when you go through that kind of pressure - I think in those situations, it teaches you what kind of a person you are and what your limits are. So, I think those years really helped me shape who I am today.
You mentioned the Olympics, Esha - looking ahead, of course, to the next edition in 2028 - it's still early days, of course, in terms of the full steam preparations for 2028. But as things stand right now, would it be fair to say that you've drawn up at least sort of a rough road map for the next edition of the Olympics in terms of what you need to work on the most? Or is that something that will happen a little later?
I think I did that just a few days after the (qualification round at the Paris Olympics) match (laughs). I think when I tasted what it was like - the games and the trials and I qualified - I think I took down a lot of notes (on) what happened and I think when you are like that and you've missed by such a margin (was the youngest member of the Indian contingent in Paris and competed in the 25m pistol event, but couldn't qualify for the final), you have more of a hunger built up. So, I used all of that in my planning and yes, I have a good enough plan for now. So, let's see how it goes.
You spoke about what it feels like to compete at the Olympics at that level. When you went to Paris last year, how different a feeling was it, in terms of overall sort of anxiety on nerves, to participate in the Olympics, vis-a-vis other events and in terms of staying focussed on what your goals are? What was your overall experience like, of being there at your first Olympics?
So, maybe I never acknowledged those feelings while I was there, because, you know, as an athlete, you're not supposed to really make it so big in your head. The simpler you keep it, the more you tell yourself that the name (of the competition) might be different, but the end of the day you have to do the same thing (the better it is). But now that I look back, I think there were a lot of emotions. Of course, I knew it's the Olympics, but I was happy that I could really keep my feelings in control, that they never went overboard. I did all I could and I played reasonably well. I never had a bad series. It was a good score that I shot (581 in qualification, finished 18th out of 40 shooters in the round that decided the eight finalists). And I think that the atmosphere (at the Paris Olympics) was quite different. I expected quite a lot, but I think this was my first one (Olympics outing), so far. It was a very simple setup and the shooters were housed separately, so I wasn't (really) exposed to that much of an 'Olympic environment', with so many athletes (around). I think that way the Asian Games was very different. We were all in the same place. You know, hundreds and hundreds of athletes of all different sports. I think that was more exposure. The Olympics were quite simple and I think it worked out for the best. And in terms of pressure, definitely, that was the most high-pressure situation, I was in. But because, we played the Olympic trials, I think that was a good boost for me because those trials determined whether we were going or not (to Paris), no matter what kind of medals you already had in your bag. So, if you didn't perform there, then that's it (end of the road as far as the Olympics outing was concerned). But if you do well, then you go because you've proved yourself - that you are in form. I think I was grateful for the Olympic trials. Of course, every format has its own pros and cons, but this one, I think, it really put us in that situation where we experienced what it felt like to give it (our) all and it was the last one where we could really prove ourselves. So, I think because of that, I was able to perform well enough.
And that really brings me very nicely to my next question because you spoke about the Olympic trials. What is your take on sort of the current pool of Indian female pistol shooters, because it's a very, very strong pool, a very strong field currently in the 10m and the 25m. There is yourself, Palak, Rhythm, Suruchi is really making waves, there's Manu of course. Would you say the competition is quite fierce and that drives you and the others to be the very best version of yourselves, in every single event?
Absolutely, I do. I think not just that, I'm also so proud to say that I'm one of the girls from the Indian team. I am so proud of my teammates. Despite them being my competitors, I admire them so much because of the achievements they have had. We have Suruchi (Phogat) coming up. She is a phenomenal shooter. I would encourage everyone to watch a match of hers. She's so different and I don't think I've ever seen someone like her before. I think we, as a group really push each other. If you have good enough competition, that's where you (can) get the talent from. If you don't have someone you can compete with at the domestic level, then you don't have that motivation to go and play. And such people give you that feeling of competition and that is where you really get to push through your limits and find out how much you can really perform.
Absolutely. In fact, and that reminds me of something else that I wanted to perhaps discuss with you. Healthy rivalry and competition, it motivates a lot of at. Some are different, but most athletes they are motivated by this. Historically, if you look at the US track team or the Australian swim team, they are full of examples of athletes like that - the inter-personal, very healthy kind of competition, that boosts both confidence and that killer attitude while competing. Do you see yourself as someone like that? Does the drive to be the best in the group really motivate you?
How I look at it, how my parents, my dad especially, has taught me to look at the (internal) competition in an individual sport - it's a bit confusing to understand how you really (should) be around (your) teammates. Because, this (shooting sport) is not a team-sport. It's not like football where, everyone has to work together in harmony. It's more like everyone is a competitor, even if they are from your own country. So, it's quite confusing (sometimes) to (understand how to) behave with them (teammates). Do you get close? Do you not get close? But how I see it is - they are my teammates and it is an individual sport. Yes, they are my competitors, but at the same time, it won't matter how you are with them because when you're at the lane, it's your game, it's your hand, it's your gun. They can't do anything to you and you can't do anything to them. So, I think a healthy rivalry at the end of the day is much better. If they win, you, just be happy for them because you gave it all and they gave it all. And if it worked out for them, just, it's good for them. I don't think having that (attitude) 'they won, I didn't win and I don't like this'. That never helps anyone grow.
How much has the Gun for Glory Academy helped you? The academy staff overall, Gagan (Narang) and other coaches and the role that they have played in shaping your athletic career so far…
I am pretty sure I wouldn't be where I am (today) if it wasn't for 'Gun for Glory' (Shooting Academy co-founded by Olympic medallist Gagan Narang). When I took up shooting, as a nine-year-old, back in 2015, there were no (private) shooting ranges (at that time) in Hyderabad. We just had one range, which was government-owned, at the Gachibowli stadium. That's the only range we have for trap (shooting), skeet, rifle, pistol – all in one. So, there were no academies, no proper coaches for beginners. Nobody really knew (much about shooting sport). It would be like a friend helping out another friend. There were no professionally run ranges etc. People were just doing it as a hobby. So, my dad's friend who introduced me to shooting, he gave us an idea and said – 'why don't you go to Pune?' 'Gun for Glory' was based in Pune. So, then I flew to Pune and I think I did this a couple of times in a year. I honed my basic skills quite well and became stronger as a shooter. And within, I think, within a year or two they ('Gun for Glory') opened I think two branches in Hyderabad and that's when I had a range to go to and practice every day. My first coach was from there. His name was Hiren. He was from Gujarat, but he was living in Pune. He was my first coach. He taught me shooting. They would have so many competitions going on in the gun for Gloria Academy itself.
Then we had 'Project Leap' (a programme that was started in 2017 by the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation in collaboration with Olympic Gold Quest and one that aims to improve the technical, physical & mental skill levels of the athletes in order to help them jump-start their National and international shooting careers) which was a very, very important part of my life. This was a project where, you know, they introduced foreign coaches, who would come and polish the really good shooters at the academy. You had to play trials to attend the camps to get into the team for 'Project Leap' So I played those trials. So, you see how these competitions really gave me that experience of like fighting for and getting into the team. And then we had the foreign coach. He polished my skills quite a lot and I shared a good bond with him. I think a lot of my basic skills were honed at the 'Project Leap' camp, because I was quite young and that's when I won that gold in the Nationals (in 2018, a 13-year-old Esha became the youngest ever National champion in the 10m Air Pistol senior event, beating Manu Bhaker, who finished second. She also won golds in the youth and junior categories of the same event) and everybody got to know about me. So, 'Gun for Glory' has played a massive role in my career.
You mentioned Gagan and the role that he has played, along with his academy in shaping your career. He is of course one of the Indian shooters who have been huge inspirations for youngsters and given the country some real watershed moments in the sport of shooting. One such achievement, and in many ways the one that broke the dam for Indian shooting to really come into its own, was way back in 2004 when Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won the silver medal in Athens. I remember going to the airport when he came back with the medal. You must have been about a year old at that time…
Esha: Oh, I wasn't even born then (laughs).
You weren't born yet, right! But if you had to look back at say the last five or six years - how much has the landscape of Indian shooting changed according to you, for the better, in this phase? Of course, India has become a massive shooting powerhouse. The ISSF has in fact awarded hosting rights for the World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) in 2027 and the ISSF Junior World Championship (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) in 2028 to India…
I think one thing that I like about the Federation in shooting and the people in shooting is - as you know, in between, we did not win any (shooting) medals in, Rio (2016 Olympics) and Tokyo (2021 Olympics) and we did face quite a backlash. But I think our people took it in a different way, rather than get upset (about it). We used that in a way to see how we should actually improve, what went wrong and we never gave up or felt like we didn't do enough. Of course, nobody goes there to perform badly. Everybody's dream is to win and see the flag being raised high. So, we actually used that (disappointment) to improve more and more. Because I also played the Olympic trials in 2021, as a 16-year-old, I have seen in all these years the amount of improvement. They really do take your feedback. Shooters wanted psychologists, they got them psychologists. We have so many physios travelling with us. We have everything we need when we go outside for a competition. There's not one thing we can complain about.