In many ways, Esha Singh is the baby in the Indian shooting team. That is, if you go by her age, just 19. But she’s already assured of a spot in the sports pistol team for the Paris Olympics. Having gone through the extreme grind of shooting multiple trials in two events – sports pistol and air pistol – Esha was low on energy by the end of it. On Sunday, in blazing-hot Bhopal, she decided not to shoot the last final, in air pistol, as she had a fever. It made sense as Esha, her enthusiastic father, Sachin Singh, and coach, Ronak Pandit, decided she would provide a medical certificate and not stand in the shooting lane for the last event.
At the end of these trials, Esha Singh was physically exhausted but her spirit was high. “I am simply excited that I can be part of the sports pistol team for Paris 2024 after doing well in the trials,” Esha told RevSportz, her voice conveying that positivity. “For all those who have imagined these trials would be very hard, all I can say is, I enjoyed it. It has shown strength – My technique and how to handle pressure.”
As a winner of four medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, last year, the diminutive girl from Hyderabad handled success well. She smiled and gave many interviews in China, and the junior of the team was happy. In New Delhi and Bhopal, the big deal was to absorb pressure and perform, with the extreme and oppressive heat.
Had it not been hard on Esha, shooting almost non-stop since last year? “No, I did take a break last year and have no problems,” she said. “These trials were a good chance for me to understand many things. Let me tell you, to make just one team and not two is no disappointment for me. I wish to make it clear, I enjoy the sports pistol event and am really looking forward to Paris.”
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🚨EXCLUSIVE
“Olympic is just a name; at the end of the day, it’s you, and you have to execute your own game,” says @singhesha10 about her mantra for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Also, hear from @CoachRonak, Esha’s coach, on the role of sports science in her preparation, managing… pic.twitter.com/5ebpakuKe6
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) May 20, 2024
For those not well versed with the nuances of shooting, Esha could have been in the team for two events – air and sports pistol – if she had blazed the trials. But then, in her own words, she is happy with what she has achieved. “This will be my first Olympics, so if I can focus on just one event, I am more than happy,” she said.
A first look at Esha would give the impression that she is not well built. But then, shooting is a sport where fitness does not mean pumping iron. “I mean, we all have different fitness methods and I believe in not overdoing anything,” she said. “My sport, I have to stay supple and lithe, with good balance.”
Handling pressure has been the hottest topic around these trials, and how so many restrictions kicked in for the shooters courtesy the NRAI (National Rifle Association of India) guidelines. As far as Esha is concerned, she was happy with the system, even before these guidelines were issued on Sunday evening. “I am just fine with the planning being done for me by the NRAI, coach Ronak Pandit and the SAI,” she said. “The roadmap to Paris has been planned including one more World Cup in Munich and then a camp in France. I look forward to it.”
Reflecting on her career, Esha can smile. She began very early in sports, dabbled with a few disciplines before deciding at the age of nine that she would become a shooter. What stands out is her cool behaviour and the attitude of being ready to take things as they come. “I have been shooting for over ten years now, but the thrill of the first Olympics is there inside me,” she said. “I am happy, just to shoot one event means I can focus on the challenge.”
Before concentrating on full-time shooting, she had dabbled with badminton and go-karting as well. She now travels with her father, a former rally driver. Even during the course of this interview, she was on the highway with her Dad before stopping for a lunch break. This is Esha, on the move, a rising star who has no fear and is ready to handle the big stage with poise. One thing is for sure, whatever happens in terms of results, the disarming smile will not leave Esha’s face. And that makes for a pleasant sight – a smiling top shot!
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