India's shooting contingent began its campaign at the prestigious ISSF World Cup Final in Doha with a spectacular one-two finish on Saturday. The opening day was lit up by the brilliance of Suruchi Singh, who not only captured the women's 10m air pistol gold but also shattered a long-standing Junior World Record.
Historic Gold and Silver for India
In a dominant display of precision, Suruchi Singh fired a sensational final score of 245.1 to stand atop the podium. Her performance demolished the previous Junior World Record of 241.7, set by fellow Indian shooter Manu Bhaker back in 2019. Making the victory sweeter was the silver medal won by her compatriot Sainyam, who scored a composed 243.3, securing a dream start for the country with a superb 1-2 finish.
The 21-year-old Sainyam had stormed into the lead for a significant part of the final contest. However, a sequence of four shots scoring 9.5 each halted her charge, allowing Suruchi to reclaim control and seal the gold medal. Three-time Olympian Manu Bhaker, also competing in the final, finished fifth with a score of 179.2.
A Champion's Journey and Qualification Path
Suruchi Singh, the daughter of a Havildar from Jhajjar in Haryana, has been in imperious form throughout the year. She entered the 12-shooter final after scoring 586 in the qualification round, which placed her second. Sainyam, with a score of 573, edged through in eighth position, while Bhaker qualified sixth with 578.
This victory marks Suruchi's fifth consecutive gold medal on the World Cup circuit this year, underscoring her dominance in the discipline. For her magnificent win, she earned a prize money of €5,000, while Sainyam collected €4,000 for the silver.
Drama in Men's Pistol and Rifle Disappointment
The men's 10m air pistol final delivered its own share of intense drama. Reigning world champion Samrat Rana, who looked in prime form early on, saw his gold medal hopes fade after a couple of costly low shots. He eventually settled for the bronze medal with a score of 221.5. China's Hu Kai, whom Samrat had narrowly beaten at the World Championships, turned the tables to clinch gold, with Germany's Rio 2016 Olympic champion Christian Reitz taking silver. India's Varun Tomar, who began confidently, finished fourth with 201.2.
Earlier in the day, India's rifle shooters endured a tough run. Former world champion Rudrankksh Patil shot consistently in the men's 10m air rifle final, but a single early 9.8 – his only sub-par shot – proved decisive, leaving him in fourth place. Arjun Babuta finished sixth. In the women's 10m air rifle, Elavenil Valarivan narrowly missed the eight-shooter final, ending in ninth position with a score of 630.
The men's rifle event was won by Sweden's Victor Lindgren (253.0), followed by China's double Olympic champion Sheng Lihao (252.6). In shotgun, India's sole representative, Zorawar Sandhu, ended Day 1 in ninth place in men's trap with a score of 70/75. He will return for two more qualification rounds on Sunday.
