Punjab Newsline | Nagoya(Japan)
India secured its second gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 after the duo of Suruchi and Kamaljeet won the gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event on Friday. The Indian pair finished at the top with a score of 484.6, delivering India's first shooting gold of the Games.
With this victory, Indian shooters have now contributed 10 medals to the country's tally, including one gold, five silver and four bronze medals. Earlier, India's women's cricket team had won the nation's first gold medal of the Games.
In the final, Suruchi and Kamaljeet outperformed South Korea by 6.6 points. India scored 484.6 points, while South Korea settled for silver with 478.0 points. Iran claimed the bronze medal with a score of 415.8.
The gold medal helped India move up to 12th place in the overall medal standings. The country has now won 19 medals, comprising two gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals.
Kamaljeet, who hails from Sulkha village in Haryana's Rewari district, initially competed in athletics. However, a serious injury in 2019 forced him to leave the sport. He then turned to shooting and gradually built a successful career despite facing several challenges. During difficult periods, he considered quitting the sport, but constant support from his parents kept him motivated.
After years of hard work, he established himself as a promising shooter.
Suruchi Inder Singh, a 20-year-old shooter from Jhajjar, Haryana, began shooting at the age of 13.
She trains under coach Suresh Singh at the Guru Dronacharya Shooting Academy in Bhiwani. Interestingly, her family had initially hoped she would pursue kabaddi, but she chose shooting and has now emerged as one of India's rising stars on the international stage.
