Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet clinched India’s first shooting gold at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Friday, lifting the nation’s morale with a record‑breaking mixed‑team 10m air pistol final.
The 20‑year‑old Suruchi, from Jhajjar in Haryana, had previously missed a medal in the women’s 10m air pistol. She entered the event with a single goal: to overcome that disappointment and secure gold. With five World Cup and one World Cup Final gold medals, she approached the final with calm confidence.
In qualification, the pair shot 196, 195 and 196 for a combined 587, setting a Games qualifying record and tying the Asian Games record. They entered the medal round in pole position. In the final, they combined for 484.6, a new Games and Asian record, with Suruchi scoring 245.7 and Kamaljeet 238.9. South Korea finished 478.0 and Iran 415.8.
India also earned silver in the men’s 50m rifle 3‑position team. Aishwary Pratap Singh, Rudrankksh Patil and Niraj Kumar led the competition for most of the event but were overtaken by China, finishing 1766 to India’s 1762. Aishwary and Niraj advanced to the individual finals, while Rudrankksh missed the top eight.
The victory marks a significant moment for India’s shooting contingent, ending a series of disappointments at the Games. Suruchi said she was proud to bring home the nation’s first shooting medal after earlier setbacks.
