In a performance that highlighted nerves of steel and remarkable consistency, 19-year-old Suruchi Phogat from Haryana secured her third consecutive gold medal at the ISSF World Cup in Munich in the women’s 10m air pistol final. Despite intense pressure and elite competition, including Olympic medallists, Suruchi Phogat held her ground and edged out France’s Camille Jedrzejewski in a nail-biting finish. Her steady rise, powered by determination and sharp shooting, is making her one of India’s most promising pistol shooters on the global stage.
A Field of Champions, but Suruchi Phogat Stays Unfazed
Suruchi Phogat’s path to gold was anything but easy. The final included Paris Olympics silver medallist Camille Jedrzejewski and multiple Chinese champions, including Tokyo Olympic medallist Jiang Ranxin. Yet Suruchi Phogat, undeterred by big names, built a strong early lead with a 52.1 first series, creating a 2.2-point cushion. Though her scores dipped at times, including a crucial 9.0 in the seventh shot, she maintained her composure. Shooting coach Suresh Singh credited her fast starts and training under pressure for her ability to handle such high-stakes scenarios. Throughout the final, Suruchi Phogat tallied seven shots above 10, including standout scores of 10.8 and 10.7.
A Historic Hat-Trick of Golds
This Munich win adds to Suruchi Phogat’s World Cup golds from Lima—where she beat fellow Indian Manu Bhaker—and an earlier triumph over China’s Wei Qian. Notably, she becomes the first Indian shooter to win three straight World Cup golds. In a gripping finale, Suruchi Phogat trailed Jedrzejewski by 0.5 points after the penultimate shot but responded with a solid 9.5, while Jedrzejewski could only manage 9.8—sealing the gold for the Indian. Chief pistol coach Samresh Jung acknowledged that while the final wasn’t flawless, it was a vital learning experience for Suruchi Phogat and a boost to her confidence.
National coach Jay Wardhan Singh Chouhan humorously noted that Chinese shooters seemed wary of Suruchi Phogat’s growing dominance. While China has produced strong performers like Sun Yujie in the 25m pistol this year, India now has its own rising star in the 10m air pistol event.
