Suruchi Singh, Kamaljeet win Asian Games gold with Asian record 484.6 in 10m air pistol
Synopsis
Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet did not just win gold at Nagoya — they set an Asian record of 484.6 in the final, having already equalled the mark in qualification. The victory is India's first pistol medal of these Asian Games, and Kamaljeet's backstory — a farmer's son from Haryana who joined the Army to fund his shooting dream — makes it one of the more compelling narratives on the podium.
Key Takeaways
Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 25 September .
The pair set an Asian record of 484.6 in the final.
They had topped qualification with an Asian record-equalling 587–29x , finishing three points ahead of Iran.
The gold is India's second at the current Games and the country's first pistol medal of the tournament.
Kamaljeet comes from a farming family in Haryana and joined the Indian Army before the Games to support his career.
Indian shooters Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet claimed the 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday, 25 September, setting an Asian record score of 484.6 in the final. The victory handed India its second gold of the ongoing Games and delivered the country's first pistol medal of the tournament, coming after earlier disappointments in the men's and women's 10m air pistol individual events.
A Record-Breaking Final
The duo did not just win — they dominated. Suruchi and Kamaljeet had already signalled their intent in qualification, where they topped the standings with an Asian record-equalling score of 587–29x, finishing three points clear of second-placed Iran. They then carried that momentum into the final, surpassing the previous Asian record to seal gold in a competitive field that also included South Korea.
What Suruchi Said After the Win
'In my mind, I was thinking of giving my 100%; I was thinking of winning gold for India,' Suruchi said after receiving the yellow metal. Asked about the competitive pressure of facing shooting powerhouses like South Korea and Iran, she said winning gold was the only thought she carried into the arena. She also credited her parents for helping her stay composed between qualification and the final. 'After the qualification, they helped me a lot to perform well in this match,' she said. Looking beyond the individual triumph, Suruchi added: 'I think India needs a lot of gold, not just one, and India will win them.'
Kamaljeet's Journey From a Haryana Farm to the Podium
Kamaljeet, who hails from a farming family in Haryana, spoke candidly about the financial hardships that shaped his path to elite shooting. 'The financial condition of my family was not good. So I had to look for a job. Only shooting would not have given bread to my family,' he said. He revealed that he joined the Indian Army ahead of the Asian Games — a move that provided the stability needed to compete at the highest level. 'I was hoping to win a medal. I was not looking to go and just participate. I wanted to win an Asian Games medal, and I knew I had to do well,' he said.
India's Pistol Campaign Gets a Lift
The gold came as a timely boost for India's shooting contingent after the pistol discipline had drawn a blank in earlier individual events. The mixed team format, which pairs a male and female shooter, has increasingly become a high-stakes event at multi-sport competitions, and India's performance here — across both qualification and the final — demonstrated consistent excellence rather than a single inspired round. This is the kind of result that carries broader significance for Indian shooting's build-up to future international cycles.
Point of View
Talent-rich but financially precarious, who never get the institutional support he eventually found? The Asian record in both qualification and the final suggests this pair can compete for hardware at the highest level for years, but only if the pipeline holds.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team at the 2026 Asian Games?
Indian shooters Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 25 September 2026, setting an Asian record score of 484.6 in the final.
What was the Asian record set by Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet?
The pair set an Asian record of 484.6 in the final. They had also equalled the Asian record in qualification with a score of 587–29x, finishing three points ahead of Iran.
Is this India's first pistol medal at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes, the mixed team gold is India's first pistol medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, coming after disappointing outings in the men's and women's 10m air pistol individual events.
What is Kamaljeet's background?
Kamaljeet comes from a farming family in Haryana and faced significant financial difficulties on his path to elite shooting. He joined the Indian Army before the Asian Games, which provided him the financial stability to focus on competing at the highest level.
How did Suruchi Singh prepare mentally for the final?
Suruchi said her parents played a key role in helping her reset mentally between the qualification round and the final. She entered the final with one goal: 'winning gold for India,' as she put it after the event.
