NAGOYA, Sept 25: India secured its second gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games after Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet produced a dominant performance in the 10m air pistol mixed team final in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday.
The Indian combination controlled the contest from the early stages and finished on top of the podium, giving the country another major success in shooting. Their victory came as India’s athletes continued competing across several disciplines on Day 7 of the continental event.
The gold was particularly significant for India’s shooting contingent, which entered Friday with several medal opportunities. Suruchi and Kamaljeet delivered when it mattered most, overcoming the pressure of a final and maintaining their accuracy throughout the competition.
The result took India’s gold-medal tally to two at the Games. India’s first gold had come earlier in the women’s T20 cricket competition, where the team defeated Sri Lanka in the final.
For shooting, the mixed-team result added another major achievement after Indian competitors had already produced several podium finishes during the Games.
The 10m air pistol mixed team event requires competitors to combine individual precision with consistency under pressure. Each shot can influence the balance of the contest, making concentration particularly important as the final progresses.
Suruchi and Kamaljeet maintained their composure and established control over their opponents. Their performance allowed India to convert one of its strongest medal opportunities into gold.
The victory also came on a busy day for Indian shooting. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil and Niraj Kumar were competing in the men’s 50m rifle three-position event, while other Indian shooters were involved in the day’s programme.
The contrasting results demonstrated the unpredictable nature of shooting at a major multi-sport event. While Suruchi and Kamaljeet managed to produce a gold-medal performance, India’s men’s rifle team narrowly missed out on the top prize after struggling during the standing series.
Suruchi’s performance also adds to the growing profile of India’s younger shooting talent. The country has invested heavily in developing shooters capable of competing internationally, and mixed-team events have provided additional medal opportunities.
Kamaljeet’s contribution was equally important. The pair had to work together while maintaining individual concentration, with every round requiring accurate execution.
The gold also strengthens India’s campaign in Aichi-Nagoya after a productive opening week. By the start of Day 7, India had already accumulated 17 medals, including one gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals.
The second gold changed the composition of that tally and provided further momentum to a contingent competing across a wide range of sports.
India’s success in shooting has been complemented by medals in athletics, wushu, rowing and other disciplines. On September 24, Seema won bronze in the women’s 10,000m, ending a long wait for an Indian medal in the event, while the mixed 4x400m relay team secured silver.
The shooting victory therefore arrived at a time when India’s athletes were producing results across several disciplines.
The Aichi-Nagoya Games have also provided opportunities for athletes to build on performances from previous Asian Games. India’s women’s cricket team successfully defended its Asian Games title earlier in the competition, while wushu athlete Roshibina Devi added another medal to her three-Games record.
For Suruchi and Kamaljeet, however, Friday’s result will stand on its own as a major achievement. Winning a gold medal in a closely contested mixed-team shooting event requires accuracy, communication and the ability to respond to pressure.
The pair’s success gives India another title to celebrate as the Asian Games move deeper into their schedule. With several medal events still remaining, Indian athletes have further opportunities to add to the country’s tally.
The gold also underlines the importance of shooting to India’s Asian Games campaign. The discipline has regularly contributed medals for the country at major international competitions, and the mixed-team event provided another opportunity to demonstrate that strength.
The result will be particularly encouraging for the Indian shooting camp because it came during a day featuring multiple high-pressure events. While some competitors fell short of the podium, Suruchi and Kamaljeet converted their opportunity into the country’s second gold.
India will now turn its attention to the remaining events in Aichi-Nagoya, with athletes from shooting, athletics, boxing, kabaddi, squash, hockey and several other sports continuing their campaigns.
The medal race remains open, and India’s expanding tally provides a platform for further results in the second half of the Games.
For now, the spotlight belongs to Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet. Their gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event gave India a major boost on September 25 and marked another important chapter in the country’s Asian Games campaign.