Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], September 25: Indian shooters Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh delivered a memorable performance at the 2026 Asian Games, winning the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event on Friday. The victory gave India its second gold medal of the Games and also secured the country’s first shooting gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The Indian duo finished the final with an impressive 484.6 points, setting a new Asian Games record. South Korea’s Suhyeon Hong and Gaeun Choo took the silver medal with 478.0 points, while Iran secured bronze with 415.8 points. India finished 6.6 points ahead of the Korean pair.
Kamaljeet and Suruchi had already shown their strength during qualification, where they topped the standings with 587 points and 29 inner 10s. Their qualification performance included series scores of 196, 195 and 196, allowing them to enter the four-team medal round in first place.
The Indian pair carried that momentum into the final. They opened with 103.0 points in the first series and extended their advantage as the competition progressed. Their cumulative score moved to 202.4 and then 303.5, keeping them at the top of the leaderboard. South Korea remained within striking distance, but India continued to maintain its advantage.
In the second stage, India reached 364.7 points before moving to 424.9 after the next series. With the Korean pair mounting a challenge, the Indian shooters remained composed in the decisive stages and eventually closed the final at 484.6 points.
The final score was also significant because it surpassed the previous Asian record of 481.3 points, set by Uzbekistan earlier in 2026. India’s 484.6 was therefore not only enough for the gold medal but also established a new continental mark for the event.
The gold came after a difficult start to the Asian Games campaign for both shooters in their individual events. Kamaljeet finished ninth in the individual 10m air pistol qualification, while Suruchi finished 26th and did not advance to the individual final. India also missed medals in the men’s and women’s team events.
The mixed-team event provided another opportunity, and the pair capitalised on it. According to India Today, Kamaljeet was brought in as Suruchi’s partner through a last-minute change, replacing Kedarling in the pairing. The new combination went on to deliver India’s first shooting gold of the Games.
For 19-year-old Suruchi Singh, the Asian Games gold adds another major achievement to an already notable international career. Born in Jhajjar, Haryana, she began shooting at the age of 13 after initially trying wrestling. She subsequently made a major breakthrough on the international circuit, winning multiple ISSF World Cup gold medals and a World Cup Final title.
The victory also increased India’s gold-medal tally to two at the 2026 Asian Games. India’s first gold of the Games had come from the women’s cricket team, which defeated Sri Lanka in the final. With the shooting pair now adding another gold, India’s medal tally stood at 19 medals — two gold, eight silver and nine bronze, according to reports published after the shooting final.
Kamaljeet and Suruchi’s performance also marked a significant moment for Indian shooting at the ongoing Games. After missing out on medals in several earlier 10m air pistol events, the mixed-team pair produced their strongest performance when the gold medal was at stake, finishing with a record score and a clear margin over South Korea.
