Kamaljeet, Suruchi Fire India to Second Asian Games Gold

India claimed its second gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games on Friday as Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh produced a commanding performance in the 10m air-pistol mixed-team event at the Aichi General Shooting Range.

The Indian pair finished with 484.6 points in the final, setting an Asian record and defeating South Korea’s Hong Suhyeon and Choo Gaeun by 6.6 points. The South Korean combination took silver with 478.0, while Iran’s Haniyeh Rostamiyan and Vahid Golkhandan secured bronze with 415.8. Indonesia placed fourth after being eliminated on 349.4.

The result gave India its first shooting gold of the Aichi-Nagoya Games and its second title overall, following the women’s cricket team’s victory. It also raised India’s medal count to 19, comprising two gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals.

Indian pair controls the final

Kamaljeet and Suruchi established an early advantage by scoring 103.0 in the opening series. South Korea began with 98.1, while Iran registered 98.0 and Indonesia scored 95.2.

The Indians added 99.4 in the second series to reach 202.4. South Korea reduced the gap with a strong series of 103.1, moving to 201.2, but Kamaljeet and Suruchi responded by adding 101.1 in the third series. That took India to 303.5 at the end of the first stage, ahead of South Korea on 300.2, Iran on 295.0 and Indonesia on 291.0.

India widened the lead after the competition entered its elimination phase. A further 61.2 points took the pair to 364.7 as Indonesia became the first team eliminated. Kamaljeet and Suruchi then advanced to 424.9, opening an 8.4-point advantage over South Korea as Iran exited with the bronze medal.

South Korea attempted a late recovery in the final series, but the Indian shooters retained their composure and closed out the contest on 484.6. Their total surpassed the previous Asian final record of 481.3.

Record-setting qualification performance

The gold-medal performance followed an equally impressive qualification round. Kamaljeet and Suruchi topped the standings with 587 points and 29 inner 10s, advancing alongside South Korea, Iran and Indonesia.

They opened with a combined series of 196, added 195 in the second and completed qualification with another 196. Their total broke the Asian Games qualification record of 577 and equalled the continental record for the event.

The victory also represented a sharp turnaround for both shooters following difficult individual competitions. Kamaljeet had finished ninth in the men’s 10m air-pistol qualification, missing the final by one point. Suruchi placed 26th in the women’s event, and India did not win a medal in either the men’s or women’s 10m air-pistol team competition.

Shooting strengthens India’s campaign

The mixed-team event was India’s final medal opportunity in the 10m air-pistol programme, making the dominant win especially significant. Instead of ending that portion of the shooting campaign without a medal, India secured both a continental record and the top place on the podium.

India also added silver in the men’s 50m rifle three-positions team event through Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil and Niraj Kumar. Those two results increased the shooting contingent’s contribution to nine medals: one gold, five silver and three bronze.

With nine of India’s first 19 medals coming from the range, shooting has emerged as one of the country’s strongest disciplines at Aichi-Nagoya. The mixed-team gold provides fresh momentum after several near misses and confirms that the contingent remains a major source of podium prospects as the Games continue.