New Delhi, July 30: Indian Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya honored ISSF World Cup gold medalists Esha Singh and Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda for their remarkable achievements on Thursday.
Neeru Dhanda made history as the first Indian woman trap shooter to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup held in Lonato, Italy. Meanwhile, Esha continued her impressive performance in international shooting by clinching gold in the women’s 25-meter pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China. This marks her second World Cup gold in this event this year.
During the meeting, Mandaviya assured both athletes of the government’s full support in their pursuit of excellence in shooting. He stated, “The government is doing everything possible to ensure you perform at your best in every tournament. Shooting is one of our most important sports, especially with the LA Olympics 2028 and Commonwealth Games 2030 on the horizon. We want you to win medals at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as well.”
Mandaviya also highlighted that the achievements of these shooters reflect the success of India’s long-term investment in athlete development through initiatives like TOPS, National Centers of Excellence, Khelo India, and scientific coaching support. Esha, an Arjuna Awardee, is part of the core group of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), while Neeru is in the development group of TOPS. Both athletes have also been part of the Khelo India initiative and are preparing for the Asian Games 2026.
Neeru, a 26-year-old from Jind, set a new national record by scoring 121 out of 125 in the qualification round. She then defeated former world champion Caroline Corneiller from France in an exciting final. This victory at the World Cup follows her gold medal performance at the Asian Shooting Championship 2025.
On the other hand, 21-year-old Esha, who has already won two silver medals at the Asian Games, overcame strong competition from China in the Hangzhou final. Last year, Esha secured her first ISSF World Cup title in the 10-meter air pistol event and became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the World Championship by taking bronze in the women’s 25-meter pistol event in Doha. She also won gold in the 25-meter pistol event at the Munich World Cup with a world-record score of 43.
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