– by Pratyusha Mukherjee, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Suruchi Singh and Hav Kamaljeet Singh delivered a commanding performance in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event to win gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday, securing India’s first shooting gold of the Games.
The Haryana duo remained composed throughout the final, finishing with 484.6 points to set a new Asian Record. Their tally surpassed the previous continental mark of 481.3, set by Uzbekistan earlier this year, and finished just 3.8 points shy of the world record.
India took control early in the final and maintained its advantage despite a determined challenge from South Korea. Suruchi and Kamaljeet eventually secured gold by a margin of 6.6 points, with South Korea taking silver with 478 points. Iran won bronze with 415.8 points.
The victory marked India’s second gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and its first gold in shooting at the Games.
Earlier, Suruchi and Kamaljeet had topped the qualification round in emphatic fashion, registering series of 196, 195 and 196 for an aggregate of 587-29x and a place in the final.
Their qualification score also established a new Asian Games Qualification Record, surpassing the previous mark of 577 set by Indian shooters Sarabjot Singh and Divya Subbaraju at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.
The Indian pair’s 587-29x qualification score also equalled the existing Asian Record for the event, held by Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary following their performance at the ISSF World Cup in Osijek, Croatia, in 2021.
Iran finished second in qualification with 584-17x, followed by South Korea with 582-23x and Indonesia with 580-30x.
A late change to India’s mixed-team combination ultimately paid dividends, with Suruchi and Kamaljeet rising to the occasion to deliver a much-awaited shooting gold for the country in Japan.
Congratulating the pair on their achievement, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Singh Deo said:
“This is a remarkable achievement by Suruchi and Kamaljeet. To deliver under pressure, win gold and rewrite the Asian Record on the Asian Games stage speaks volumes about their talent, preparation and composure. Their performance is a proud moment for Indian shooting, and I congratulate both shooters on this outstanding achievement.”
NRAI Secretary General Pawankumar Singh also praised the duo, saying:
“Suruchi and Kamaljeet delivered when it mattered most, producing an exceptional performance in the mixed team event. To set a new Asian Games qualification record and follow it up by breaking the Asian Record in the final is a tremendous achievement. Their composure under pressure was outstanding, and this gold is a proud moment for Indian shooting. My congratulations to both shooters, their coaches and the entire support team.”
