New Delhi: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday felicitated India’s International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2026 gold medallists Esha Singh and Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda.
During the meeting, Dr. Mandaviya congratulated them on their landmark achievements and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting India’s shooters ahead of major international events.
Interacting with the athletes, the minister said the government is making every effort to provide world-class support through initiatives such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), National Centres of Excellence, Khelo India, and scientific coaching.
He described shooting as one of India’s priority medal-winning disciplines and expressed confidence in the team’s success at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games, according to an official statement.
Dhanda scripted history at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, Italy, by becoming the first Indian woman trap shooter to win a gold medal at an ISSF World Cup. The 26-year-old from Haryana’s Jind district also set a new national qualification record with a score of 121 out of 125 before defeating former world champion Carole Cormenier of France in the final.
A Naib Subedar in the Corps of Military Police, Neeru trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow. Her World Cup triumph came after winning the gold medal at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championships.
Esha Singh continued her impressive run in international shooting by clinching the women’s 25m pistol gold medal at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, marking her second World Cup gold of the year in the event.
The 21-year-old reigning Asian Games double silver medallist overcame a strong Chinese challenge in the Hangzhou final. Last year, she became the first Indian woman to win a World Championship medal in the women’s 25m pistol after securing bronze in Doha. Earlier, she had claimed her maiden ISSF World Cup title in the 10m air pistol before winning the 25m pistol gold at the Munich World Cup with a world-record score of 43.
Both shooters are beneficiaries of the government’s elite athlete development programmes. While Arjuna Awardee Esha Singh is part of the TOPS Core Group, Neeru Dhanda is included in the TOPS Development Group. Both are also Khelo India Athletes and are preparing for the 2026 Asian Games.
Congratulating the shooters, Dr. Mandaviya said their achievements reflect the success of India’s long-term investment in athlete development and expressed confidence that they would continue to bring laurels to the country at future international competitions.
