“I have the same approach to every match — just follow the basics.”
That’s how 17-year-old Suruchi Inder Singh, the rising star from Jhajjar, Haryana, summed up her stunning back-to-back gold medal performances in the ISSF World Cups in Buenos Aires and Lima, where she took down some of the sport’s biggest names.
The daughter of Havaldar Inder Singh, Suruchi announced her arrival on the world stage by clinching the women’s 10m air pistol gold in Argentina — her debut ISSF World Cup appearance.
She followed it up with an even more composed and dominant win in Lima, Peru, scoring 243.6 in the final at the Las Palmas Shooting Range to edge out double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, who settled for silver. China’s Yao Qiansun took bronze.
I don’t focus on who is shooting next to me. Even when Manu did well, my mindset didn’t change. My competition is only with myself.
Her victory in Buenos Aires was equally impressive, where she topped the final with 244.6 — a full 2.7 points ahead of China’s Qian Wei. Olympic champion and Chinese legend Jiang Ranxin was pushed down to third.
A Partnership of Precision
Suruchi’s second medal in Argentina came in the mixed team event, where she partnered with 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Saurabh Chaudhary. The duo reunited in Lima to clinch the 10m air pistol mixed team gold, beating the Chinese pair of Yao Qianxun and Hu Kai 17-9 in the final.
Coaches just told us to focus on the basics and enjoy our shooting. Saurabh didn’t give any special advice — we both knew what we had to do.
The pair qualified with a combined score of 580, with Suruchi outscoring her senior partner by two points. Despite trailing early in the final, they bounced back after a timely timeout by coach Samaresh Jung, eventually sealing the title with poise and precision.
Saurabh’s Return to the Spotlight
For Saurabh Chaudhary, it was a much-awaited return to form. The 22-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, who had been away from the podium for nearly two years, showed steely resolve in Lima — first in the mixed team gold with Suruchi, and then with a bronze in the men’s 10m air pistol individual event.
Of course, I’m happy the hard work is paying off. I never really stopped. I kept experimenting, kept training — either at home or at the National Centre of Excellence. Coaches like Samaresh sir were always there to support me.
Asked if his recent struggles had changed his approach, Saurabh was clear: “Not really. I just want to keep practising hard and keep getting better.”
Eyes on the Future
For Suruchi, these victories mark only the beginning. “I’m feeling very happy, but I know I have a long way to go,” she said. “I’ve learnt a lot in these competitions. My only goal is to keep improving.”
With a hat-trick of World Cup golds already in the bag and a calm, clear mindset, the teenager has shown she’s not just a one-off prodigy — she’s here to stay.
And for Saurabh, the comeback is now complete. With his ninth World Cup gold and a medal in individual competition, he’s proven that champions never fade — they just take their time to reload.
