Suruchi Singh: Rising Star in Shooting Aiming for More Medals
Suruchi Singh's Remarkable Journey
Emerging Indian shooter Suruchi Singh, who set a junior world record at the ISSF World Cup final last year, recently shared insights about her performance after clinching two additional medals at the Asian Championships this month. She also reflected on her competitive encounter with Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker during the ISSF World Cup last year. Suruchi spoke to a news outlet during the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year awards, where she was nominated, but the award ultimately went to renowned Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana.
Achievements and Records
The 19-year-old shooter from Haryana gained recognition by securing five medals, including four golds, across three ISSF World Cup events held in Argentina, Peru, and Germany last year. Notably, in April in Lima, Peru, her score of 243.6 surpassed that of Manu Bhaker, who scored 242.3 and is a double bronze medalist from the Paris Olympics.
Following these five World Cup medals, Suruchi achieved significant success at the ISSF World Cup final in Doha last December, where she won another gold in the 10 m air pistol event with a score of 245.1, breaking Manu's previous junior world record of 244.7.
Content Yet Ambitious
Starting the new year strong, Suruchi secured a gold medal in the team event and a silver in the mixed team event at the Asian Championships in the national capital. Despite her impressive achievements, she expressed a desire for more, stating, "I am happy with my game, but not satisfied. I still have a lot to do. Last year was a good start and a good finish. This year's start was also good. I am hoping to win more medals for my country this year."
Reflections on Competing with Manu Bhaker
Regarding her competition with Manu in Peru, Suruchi clarified that her focus was not solely on defeating the Olympic champion but rather on "playing for herself and the country."
Looking Ahead
With the Asian Games in Japan and the World Championships on the horizon, Suruchi expressed her excitement, saying, "This year is going to be very interesting for me. The Asian Games are coming up and the World Championships are also coming up. I am very excited, and I have been practising a lot since last year."