Indian Shooting Duo Suruchi Singh and Samrat Rana Bag Silver at Asian Championship
Indian shooters Suruchi Singh and Samrat Rana delivered a stellar performance on Thursday, winning the silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Championship. The talented pair scored an impressive 479.6 points, which not only secured them the podium finish but also established a new world and Asian junior record in the discipline.
Uzbekistan Claims Gold in Tightly Contested Final
Despite their record-breaking effort, the Indian duo was narrowly edged out by the Uzbek team of Nigina Saidkulova and Mukhammad Kamalov, who took the gold medal with a score of 481.3. Chinese Taipei finished in third place with 412.2 points, rounding out the podium in this highly competitive event.
The Indian pair started the final with a strong showing, posting 100.5 points in the first series and leading the four-team field. However, the Uzbek shooters managed to overtake them by the third series and maintained their advantage through the elimination stage, ultimately clinching the top spot.
Qualification Round Highlights and Team India's Performance
In the qualification round, Suruchi Singh, aged 19, and Samrat Rana scored 583 points, tying with the Vietnamese pair of Vinh Thu Trinh and Minh Cong Lai. India secured the higher ranking due to having more "Inner 10s"—22 compared to Vietnam's 18—showcasing their precision under pressure.
The second Indian team in the event, comprising Manu Bhaker and Sharvan Kumar, scored 571 points and finished ninth, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final. This result highlights the depth of talent in Indian shooting, even as some teams face tough competition.
India's Overall Medal Tally and Junior Successes
India's senior shooting contingent has now amassed a total of four medals at the championship: two golds, one silver, and one bronze. This includes earlier victories such as Esha Singh's gold in the women's air pistol event and the women's team gold, along with the men's air pistol team silver and Samrat Rana's individual bronze on Wednesday.
In the junior section, Indian shooters continued to shine. Last year's junior World Cup and Asian Championship winner secured gold in the women's 10m air pistol with a score of 237.9, while Vanshika Chaudhary won silver with 236.7. Additionally, the junior team of Vanshika (577 points), Rashmika (572 points), and Agam Grewal (565 points) clinched gold in the team event with a total of 1,714 points, finishing ahead of Kazakhstan (1,671 points) and Sri Lanka (1,631 points).
These achievements underscore India's growing prowess in shooting sports on the international stage, with both senior and junior athletes delivering standout performances. The record-breaking silver by Suruchi Singh and Samrat Rana adds to the country's rich medal haul, setting a positive tone for future competitions and reinforcing India's position as a force to be reckoned with in global shooting events.
