Kamaljeet and Suruchi Secure Gold in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team at Asian Games 2026
Celebrating the Gold Medal Win
Indian shooter Kamaljeet expressed his focus on savoring the experience rather than succumbing to pressure during the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team final, where he and Suruchi Singh clinched the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 on Friday. He attributed their success to seven years of dedicated effort and emphasized his identity as an athlete, even after achieving this significant milestone.
Mindset During the Competition
When asked about his mental approach during the final, Kamaljeet shared that there was no overwhelming pressure on the Indian pair, as they felt confident about winning a medal after reaching the final. "I was focused on enjoying the moment. We weren't overly anxious, thinking we had to win at all costs. We believed we would secure a medal. While we weren't certain it would be gold, we achieved it, setting an Asian Games record, which is truly remarkable," he stated.
Historic Achievement
The duo achieved a score of 484.6 points, surpassing South Korea (478.0) and Iran (415.8), while also breaking the previous Asian record of 481.3 set by Uzbekistan earlier this year. With this victory, India's medal tally now stands at 19, comprising two golds, eight silvers, and nine bronzes. Kamaljeet and Suruchi maintained their lead from the start, despite a late challenge from South Korea, ultimately winning by a margin of 6.6 points. Their final score was just four points shy of the world record.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on India's pursuit of shooting gold at the ongoing Games, Kamaljeet expressed optimism that this victory marks just the beginning, stating, "We have made a start, and more gold medals will certainly follow. Our shooting team is exceptionally strong. Only a few events have occurred so far. In the pistol events, we felt the pressure of not having won a medal yet, so we aimed to ensure at least one victory."
India's Second Gold Medal
This triumph represents India's second gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, following the women's cricket team's championship win.