Against the odds to Asian Games gold: Journey of Haryana shooters

Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh, shooters from Haryana, have made history by winning gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This victory marked their first Asian Games medal for both athletes. However, their journey to this medal was fraught with challenges. Kamaljeet, who began his shooting career in 2019, faced a significant setback when he suffered a thigh bone fracture in 2022, forcing him to take an extended break from the sport.

Despite this, he refused to quit and made a remarkable recovery, winning gold at the ISSF Junior World Championships in South Korea in 2023. Suruchi Singh, on the other hand, initially aspired to be a wrestler but had to abandon her dreams due to a collarbone injury sustained at the age of 13. Her brother, Nishant Phogat, took her to formal shooting training after discovering her passion for the sport.

Both athletes faced additional obstacles when they failed to qualify for their individual 10m air pistol events at the Asian Games. However, they remained undeterred, driven by their passion for the sport. Their national coach, Samaresh Jung, highlighted their resilience and intrinsic motivation, noting that they handled the pressure differently.

One slept through the night before the match, while the other slept for a few hours before waking up. Looking ahead, the duo now focuses on the upcoming World Championships, with the ultimate goal of securing their places at the Olympics.