Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh Miss LA 2028 Olympic Quota Despite World Championships Gold
India’s women’s 25m pistol campaign at the ISSF World Championships in Doha delivered a striking mix of triumph and disappointment. Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Divya Subbaraju combined to win the team gold, but Manu and Esha were unable to turn their individual opportunity into an Olympic quota place for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Xtratime Webdesk: India’s women’s 25m pistol campaign at the ISSF World Championships in Doha delivered a striking mix of triumph and disappointment. Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Divya Subbaraju combined to win the team gold, but Manu and Esha were unable to turn their individual opportunity into an Olympic quota place for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The Indian trio topped the team competition with a combined score of 1,761. Esha led the way with 590 points, while Manu contributed 587 and Divya added 584. South Korea finished second with 1,748, followed by Vietnam on 1,745, giving India another major medal at the championships.
The team success was followed by high expectations in the individual event, with both Esha and Manu making the eight-shooter final. Esha entered the final after finishing third in qualification with 590, while Manu secured sixth place with 587. Their positions had put both shooters in contention for one of the three Olympic quota places available through the event.
However, the final did not produce the desired outcome. Manu came agonisingly close to the podium but finished fourth, while Esha ended the competition in eighth place. With only the top three eligible finishers securing Olympic quota places, neither Indian shooter could add to the country’s qualification tally.
The result underlines the fine margins of Olympic qualification. A team gold medal showcased India’s strength in the event, but the individual final demanded another level of consistency under pressure. For Manu, a double Olympic medallist, fourth place was particularly frustrating after reaching the final. Esha, meanwhile, had entered the medal round in third position but could not maintain that advantage.
India’s shooting campaign has nevertheless produced encouraging results in Doha, with Jaypal Malviya already securing an LA 2028 quota through his silver in the men’s 10m air pistol. The focus now shifts to the remaining events as India continues its qualification push for Los Angeles.
